6

The verb 'take' is used in the context of personal habits such as Do you take sugar?; What size shoes do you take?, Do you take the Guardian/New York Times?, even At what time do you take dinner?, or I need to take a bath/nap/look at something.

Why, exactly are we using 'take', in these instances?

Improve this question
6
  • You forgot And now I must take my leave of you. That one doesn't work at all with have - but most others do, and I think increasingly people prefer to avoid what can sound like a rather dated usage in many contexts.
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Sep 9, 2015 at 23:27
  • @Fumble Fingers Yes take my leave is a good one. But the only ones of mine for which in Britain I hear people using have is for bath and dinner. I take size 10 shoes, and I've always taken size 10.
    – WS2
    Commented Sep 9, 2015 at 23:42
  • Putting aside the ones that have size 10 feet, I suspect an increasing proportion of the remainder wear (or maybe fit) size 10s, rather than take them. I dunno. I just think Do you take sugar? sounds (very slightly) formal/starchy/dated. As does taking a newspaper, a nap, or lunch(eon :)
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Sep 10, 2015 at 2:29
  • it's an ingenious question.
    – Fattie
    Commented Sep 10, 2015 at 2:53
  • You also take time off work, take photos, take a break and After dinner I take tea, and then I take a walk. Is "What size shoe do you take" a habit?
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented Sep 10, 2015 at 6:40

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
4

I think it has to do with the semantic evolution that this term has experienced from Old English.

  • OED calls take "one of the elemental words of the language;" take up alone has 55 varieties of meaning in that dictionary's 2nd print edition. Basic sense is "to lay hold of," which evolved to "accept, receive" (as in take my advice) c. 1200; "absorb" (take a punch) c. 1200; "choose, select" (take the high road) late 13c.; "to make, obtain" (take a shower) late 14c.; "to become affected by" (take sick) c. 1300.

Etymonline

Improve this answer
2

I believe it's "take"; as in the sense of "accept" and "receive".

Consider a hypothetical scenario in which you are presented with some arbitrary item. For instance, a mail courier delivers you a suspicious package. You can either "accept" & "receive" the suspicious package or you can opt to "reject" & "refuse" it.
That is to say: You can either "take" it or you can "leave" it.

Of course, it doesn't necessarily have to be a mail courier and a suspicious package. It could be a friend with a gift for your birthday.. It could be a perfect stranger, offering his personal opinion.. It could be a shoe salesman enquiring about your size, or an acquaintance offering you some sugar for your coffee.

Improve this answer
1

This usage always implies a choice. It's saying: 'When given the usual range of options, which do you habitually take?' In the relevant situations (serving tea, buying shoes, selecting a newspaper) the options are commonly understood, and taken(!) as read.

See also take your pick - "to choose what you want."

Improve this answer
0

We use take because the subject is actively involved. If they weren't, we'd use get.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .