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take for

B2 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

Think someone is something they're not, or treat them as if they are a certain kind of person

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic neutral

To wrongly believe that someone or something is a particular person or type of thing

"In the dark, she took him for a burglar and called the police."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To consider someone to be a particular type of person, especially used in rhetorical questions expressing indignation

"What do you take me for? I would never lie to you."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral

(In 'take for granted') To fail to appreciate something or someone because you assume it will always be there

"We often take clean water for granted until we're somewhere without it."

"We cannot take the peace and stability we have built in Europe for granted."

— Angela Merkel, speech to the European Parliament, 2018
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Often used when someone makes a wrong assumption about identity or character. Common construction: 'What do you take me for?' (meaning 'Do you think I'm stupid?'). Also used in 'take someone for a fool' or 'take someone for a ride' (to deceive).

Commonly used with

fool granted ride stranger idiot genius

Forms

Base
take for
I/you/we/they
3rd person
takes for
he/she/it
Past simple
took for
yesterday
Past participle
taken for
have + pp
-ing form
taking for
continuous

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