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What is Take your time in English? Accurate usage of Take your time in English!

Take your time is a quite common idiomatic expression in English communication. However, not understanding its exact meaning can lead to confusion in its usage. In today's article, PREP will help you delve into the details of Take your time in English and provide detailed application exercises as well!

The usage of Take your time in English
The usage of Take your time in English

I. What is Take your time in English?

What is Take your time in English? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Take your time is pronounced as /teɪk jɔː(r) taɪm/. It is an idiom with two different meanings: you can spend as much time as you need in doing something, or that you should slow down; to do something too slowly. For example:

Meaning

Example

You can spend as much time as you need in doing something, or that you should slow down

  • The chef took his time preparing the dish. 
  • The artist took her time to craft each brushstroke. 

To do something too slowly

  • We need those reports urgently, but that team is taking their time to finalize them. 
  • The painters are taking their time with the project. It was supposed to be completed last week! 

So, have you found the answer to the question "What is Take your time in English?" with PREP? With these two meanings, pay attention to the context to use it appropriately!

What is Take your time in English?
What is Take your time in English?

II. How to use Take your time in English

So, how do we use Take your time in English? Let's grasp the structure of Take your time in English in the following table!

Structure of Take your time in English

Example

Subject + take your time + doing something/ to do something

  • Take your time to check your answers before submitting the assignment. 
  • Take your time to solve the math problem. It's more important to understand the process than to rush to the answer. 

Subject + take your time + over something

  • They decided to take their time over wedding planning.
  • Anna decided to take her time over choosing a college to attend.

With the two structures of Take your time in English above, be sure to use them accurately!

How to use Take your time in English
How to use Take your time in English

III. Synonyms - Antonyms of Take your time in English

Take your time in English has various synonyms and antonyms. Let's have a look right away!

1. Synonyms of Take your time in English

In addition to the phrase Take your time, we can flexibly use other synonymous words to suit different situations. Let's see some synonyms of Take your time in English!

Synonyms of Take your time in English
Synonyms of Take your time in English

Synonyms of Take your time in English

Example

Temporize 

/ˈtempəraɪz/

  • The investor decided to temporize and closely monitor the market conditions before making any financial moves. 
  • The negotiator decided to temporize During the meeting to gather more information before making a decision. 

Drag your feet

/dræɡ jɔː(r) fiːt/

  • The employee has been dragging their feet on completing the report, causing delays in the project. 
  • The government has been accused of dragging their feet in addressing the urgent needs of the affected population. 

Take (something) slow

/teɪk sləʊ/

  • Learning a new skill requires patience and the ability to take it slow, gradually building proficiency over time. 
  • When starting a new relationship, it's important to take things slow to get to know each other before rushing into commitment. 

Give it time

/ɡɪv ɪt taɪm/

  • The wound is quite serious. You need to give it time to recover. 
  • After a breakup, it's important to give yourself time to heal your emotions before jumping into a new relationship. 

Be patient

/bi ˈpeɪʃnt/

  • The line at the grocery store is long, but we need to be patient and wait for our turn. 
  • Learning a musical instrument takes time and practice. Be patient and you'll improve over time. 

Don’t rush

/dəʊnt rʌʃ/

  • Don't rush into making a decision. Give yourself time to weigh the pros and cons. 
  • When making a decision about a major life change, don't rush into it. 

Slow and steady wins the race

/sləʊ ənd ˈstedi wɪn ðə reɪs/

  • It's better to start saving money early. Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to building financial security. 

Rome wasn’t built in a day

/rəʊm ˈwɒznt bɪlt ɪn ə deɪ/

  • Don't get discouraged if your skills aren't developing as quickly as you'd like. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day

2. Antonyms of Take your time in English

Furthermore, Take your time also has some common antonyms. Find out the antonyms of Take your time in English in the following table to apply them.

Antonyms of Take your time in English
Antonyms of Take your time in English

Antonyms of Take your time in English

Example

Hurry up

/ˈhʌri ʌp/

  • We're running late for the movie. Hurry up or we'll miss the beginning! 
  • The deadline for submitting the application is tomorrow. Hurry up! 

Get/ Put your skates on

/ɡet/pʊt jʊr skeɪt ɒn/

  • We need to leave soon if we want to catch the train. Get your skates on! 
  • The project is behind schedule. Put your skates on to catch up the progress. 

Time is running out

/taɪm ɪz ˈrʌnɪŋ aʊt/

  • The sale ends at midnight, and time is running out to get the discounted prices. 
  • The auction is about to close, and time is running out to place your bids. 

As soon as possible (ASAP)

/əz suːn əz ˈpɒsəbl/

  • Please send me the report as soon as possible. We need it for the meeting tomorrow morning. 
  • The client requires the revised proposal as soon as possible, so prioritize it and complete it quickly. 

On a deadline

/ɒn ə ˈdedlaɪn/

  • The article needs to be submitted by 5 p.m. today. I'm on a deadline and can't miss it. 
  • My team is on a tight deadline to finish the project before the end of the week. 

IV. Distinguishing Take your time, Take it easy, Take time, and Take time out

Many learners often confuse Take your time, Take it easy, Take time, Take time out, and use them inappropriately in certain contexts. Therefore, let's differentiate between these phrases and understand the meaning of Take your time in English with PREP!

Phrase

Meaning

Example

Take your time

you can spend as much time as you need in doing something, or that you should slow down

  • When solving a difficult puzzle, take your time to consider all the possibilities. 
  • During the job interview, take your time to provide well-considered responses. 

Take it easy

rest, relax, or be calm

  • After a stressful day at work, it's important to take it easy to avoid burnout. 
  • When faced with a challenging situation, take it easy to find a solution.

Take time

to need a long time

  • Learning a new language takes time, so don't expect to become fluent overnight.
  • Building a successful career often takes time

Take time out

to rest or do something different from your usual job or activities

  • After finishing the project, it's essential to take time out with ones loved. 
  • You need to prioritize self-care and take time out to maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

Once you understand the differences in functions among Take your time, Take it easy, Take time, and Take time out, pay attention to using them accurately in different English contexts!

V. Exercise using Take your time in English with answers

After learning the meaning of Take your time in English and related knowledge, let's dive into the following small exercise with PREP to familiarize yourself!

Exercise: Fill in the blanks with the phrases: Take your time, Take it easy, Take time, and Take time out appropriately

1. When you're solving a difficult puzzle, remember to ______ and carefully consider each move.

2. I have been working non-stop for weeks. I think it's time for me to ______ and relax.

3. Planning a vacation requires research. ______ to explore different destinations and find the best options.

4. After a long day at work, it's important to ______ and not let stress get the best of you.

5. Learning a new skill takes time and practice. ______ to regularly dedicate time to honing your abilities.

6. Don't feel rushed to make a decision. ______ to carefully consider all the factors.

Answer:

1. Take your time

2. Take time out/ Take it easy

3. Take your time

4. Take it easy/ Take time out

5. Take time

6. Take your time

Now you know "What is Take your time in English?" and “How to use Take your time in English?”, right! This article has compiled all the theoretical knowledge about Take your time in English, as well as provided its structure, synonyms, and antonyms. PREP hopes it will serve as a useful reference for you to study effectively! Wish you success!

Master Tu Pham
Master Tu Pham
Founder/CEO at Prep
Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.
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