take down
Write down or dismantle
Littéralement: Take (to grab) + down (onto the surface of paper)
En 15 secondes
- To record information by writing or typing it.
- Used when capturing specific details like names or numbers.
- Common in professional, academic, and urgent everyday situations.
Signification
When you 'take down' something, you are writing information on paper or typing it into a device. It's about capturing words quickly so you don't forget them later.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6In a business meeting
Could you take down the minutes of this meeting?
Could you record the official notes of this meeting?
On a phone call
Wait, let me grab a pen to take down your address.
Wait, let me get a pen to write your address.
A police officer at a scene
The officer took down my statement after the accident.
The officer recorded my account after the accident.
Contexte culturel
Taking down minutes is a vital role in meetings. It ensures that decisions are documented and can be referred to later, reflecting a culture of accountability. Students are expected to 'take down' notes during lectures. Unlike some cultures where rote memorization is key, here the act of synthesizing and recording is emphasized. The 'takedown notice' is a global phenomenon. It represents the tension between copyright holders and content creators in the age of social media. In many English-speaking legal systems, 'taking down a statement' is the first step in a formal investigation, turning spoken word into legal fact.
The Pen Rule
Whenever you see someone reach for a pen while you are talking, you can bet they are about to 'take down' what you say.
Pronoun Placement
Never say 'take down it'. It sounds very unnatural to native speakers. Always 'take it down'.
En 15 secondes
- To record information by writing or typing it.
- Used when capturing specific details like names or numbers.
- Common in professional, academic, and urgent everyday situations.
What It Means
Think of take down as a way to catch words before they fly away. It means writing or typing information. You aren't just writing for fun. You are recording facts, names, or instructions. It is a very active way of listening. You hear it, then you take it down immediately.
How To Use It
You can put the object in the middle or at the end. You can say take down the notes or take the notes down. Both are perfectly fine. If you use a pronoun like it or them, it must go in the middle. For example, I'll take it down is correct. Saying take down it sounds a bit clunky and wrong. It’s a phrasal verb that acts like a bridge between your ears and your pen.
When To Use It
Use this when accuracy matters. Use it in meetings when your boss gives instructions. Use it at a doctor’s office for a prescription. It’s great when you're on the phone and need a number. It feels more professional than just saying write. It implies you are being careful and organized. You might even take down a license plate number if you see a car accident. It’s for moments that require a record.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for creative writing. You don't take down a poem or a novel you are inventing. That is just writing. Also, avoid it for long, formal documents. You don't take down a legal contract. You draft or write that. It’s also not for drawing. If you are sketching a cat, you aren't taking it down. Unless the cat is talking and you're recording its secrets!
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, taking down information shows you are paying attention. In a business meeting, if you aren't taking down notes, people might think you don't care. It’s a sign of a 'go-getter' or a reliable person. Historically, this phrase comes from the idea of moving information from the air 'down' to the physical paper on your desk.
Common Variations
You might hear jot down for something very quick and messy. Note down is almost the same but feels slightly more formal. Write down is the most basic version. If someone says take down, they usually mean they are recording something exactly as it was said.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is highly versatile and works in almost any setting. Just remember the 'pronoun-in-the-middle' rule to avoid sounding like a beginner.
The Pen Rule
Whenever you see someone reach for a pen while you are talking, you can bet they are about to 'take down' what you say.
Pronoun Placement
Never say 'take down it'. It sounds very unnatural to native speakers. Always 'take it down'.
Professionalism
In a meeting, asking 'May I take down some notes?' is a great way to show you are serious and attentive.
Internet Slang
A 'takedown' can also refer to a very effective insult or argument that makes someone else look foolish.
Exemples
6Could you take down the minutes of this meeting?
Could you record the official notes of this meeting?
A standard professional request for documentation.
Wait, let me grab a pen to take down your address.
Wait, let me get a pen to write your address.
Shows the speaker is ready to record specific data.
The officer took down my statement after the accident.
The officer recorded my account after the accident.
Used for official recording of facts.
I'll take down the ingredients while you read them out.
I will write the ingredients while you say them.
Informal but focused on accuracy.
I should take down everything you say, because you'll forget it in five minutes!
I should record everything you say because you will forget it.
Teasing someone about their bad memory.
She took down his last wishes with a shaking hand.
She wrote his final wishes with a trembling hand.
Highlights the importance and weight of the information being recorded.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'take down'.
The police officer ______ the witness's statement very carefully.
The sentence is in the past tense, so 'took down' is correct.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
I have your number. I will...
With pronouns like 'it', the object must go between 'take' and 'down'.
Match the sense of 'take down' with the example.
Senses: 1. Record info, 2. Remove online, 3. Dismantle
Matching the context to the specific meaning of the phrasal verb.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Can I give you my email? B: Yes, wait a second while I ______.
While 'take it down' is the phrase, in a natural dialogue, you'd mention the tool or the action clearly.
In which situation would you NOT use 'take down'?
Choose the incorrect situation.
'Take down' implies recording existing info, not creative writing.
🎉 Score : /5
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesThe police officer ______ the witness's statement very carefully.
The sentence is in the past tense, so 'took down' is correct.
I have your number. I will...
With pronouns like 'it', the object must go between 'take' and 'down'.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Matching the context to the specific meaning of the phrasal verb.
A: Can I give you my email? B: Yes, wait a second while I ______.
While 'take it down' is the phrase, in a natural dialogue, you'd mention the tool or the action clearly.
Choose the incorrect situation.
'Take down' implies recording existing info, not creative writing.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
14 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends.
Yes, it applies to both writing with a pen and typing on a keyboard.
'Take down' often implies you are recording someone else's words as they speak. 'Write down' is more general.
Yes, if you mean you dismantled it or demolished it.
As a noun (e.g., 'a takedown'), it is one word. As a verb, it is two words.
No, for a photo you would say 'take' or 'capture'.
'Put down' can mean to stop holding something or to insult someone. It's not usually used for notes.
You say 'The notes were taken down by me.'
Yes, it means to defeat them physically or humiliate them.
It's an idiom meaning to make someone less proud or arrogant.
Yes, it's very professional to ask to take down notes.
Yes, 'taking down a site' means removing it from the internet.
The past tense is 'took down'.
Yes, it is very common in all major dialects of English.
Expressions liées
jot down
similarTo write something very quickly.
write down
synonymTo record something in writing.
note down
similarTo record something for future reference.
take up
contrastTo start a new hobby or occupy space.
bring down
similarTo cause someone to lose power.
