To unfairly direct your anger, frustration, or stress at someone who is not responsible for it.
To be mean or angry with someone who didn't do anything wrong just because you're in a bad mood.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To express anger or frustration by treating someone badly, even though they are not the cause of the problem.
"I know work has been stressful, but please don't take it out on the rest of us."
Don't take it out on me — I'm not the one who made that decision.
— Common conversational expression widely attested in fiction and film dialogue
To damage or abuse an object as a way of releasing frustration.
"After losing the match, he took it out on the locker room door and put a dent in it."
Very common in everyday English. Almost always implies an innocent victim. The subject is typically experiencing stress from another source (work, relationships, etc.). Common in British and American English.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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