| Phrasal verb | Main meaning |
|---|---|
take out on [teɪk aʊt ɒn] | to direct your anger or frustration toward someone or something unfairly |
Other meanings
- to vent negative feelings by acting against someone or something
- to blame someone for problems they didn’t cause
Example Sentences Using the Phrasal Verb "take out on"
- Don’t take out on your friends just because you had a bad day.
- He took it out on the door and slammed it hard.
- She’s upset, but she shouldn’t take it out on the kids.
- After losing the game, he took it out on himself, feeling guilty all evening.
Features of Using "take out on"
This phrase is almost always followed by “on” plus the target of anger. It’s often used with “it”: take it out on someone. The “it” refers to the speaker’s emotions or problems, not a physical object.
Other phrasal verbs with the verb take
take off
to leave the ground and begin to fly
take away
remove something from a place or person
take up
to begin a new activity or hobby
take out
to remove something from a place
take over
to gain control of something, especially a business or responsibility
take in
to absorb or understand something
take back
to return something
take after
to resemble a family member in appearance or character
take along
to bring someone or something with you
take down
to remove something from a higher position
take aside
to move someone away from others for a private conversation
take apart
disassemble into pieces
take through
to guide someone through a process or explain something step by step
take on
to accept or undertake a task or responsibility
take to
to begin to like someone or something
take over from
to assume control or responsibility from someone else
take down a notch
to humble someone or reduce their arrogance
🔗 Learn more about the irregular verb take, including its forms and usage.