1 B2 idiomatic informal
To develop a dislike for someone, often suddenly or without obvious reason
"For some reason, the teacher seemed to take against him from the very first day of term."
inseparable
take against
B2 informal inseparable transitive
To develop a dislike or negative feeling toward someone, often without strong reason
In plain English
Start to dislike someone, sometimes for no clear reason
What does "take against" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Primarily British English. Implies a somewhat irrational or instinctive dislike that develops over time. The object is always a person. Not typically used for disliking objects or situations.
Words that pair with "take against"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
person stranger colleague neighbor immediately instinctively
How to conjugate "take against"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
take against
I/you/we/they
3rd person
takes against
he/she/it
Past simple
took against
yesterday
Past participle
taken against
have + pp
-ing form
taking against
continuous
Hear "take against" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "take against" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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