take for

To wrongly think that someone or something is someone or something else.

• I took you for my brother.
• She took the plastic flowers for real ones.
• Did you take him for the manager?

How to use it: take someone/something for someone/something (I took the bag for a cushion.)

Similar words: mistake for, confuse with

Common phrases: take someone for, take for someone else

To bring someone somewhere to get food, a drink, or another thing.

• Dad took us for ice cream.
• Can I take you for lunch tomorrow?
• She takes her mother for tea every Friday.

How to use it: take someone for something (I will take you for a coffee.)

Common phrases: take for coffee, take for ice cream, take someone for lunch

To believe that someone is a particular kind of person.

• Do you take me for a fool?
• She took him for an honest man.
• They must take us for complete idiots.

How to use it: take someone for someone/something (Do you take me for a child?)

Similar words: regard as, consider

Common phrases: take someone for, take for a fool

To trick someone into giving you a particular amount of money.

• The dealer took me for fifty dollars.
• Those crooks took him for all his savings.
• How much did the scammer take you for?

How to use it: take someone for an amount (The fake broker took her for five thousand pounds.)

Similar words: swindle, cheat, rip off

Common phrases: take someone for, take for thousands

To count an item as costing a particular amount.

• He took the bread for sixpence.
• The merchant took each sack for two shillings.
• She took the smaller items for a penny each.

How to use it: take something for an amount (The shopkeeper took the bread for sixpence.)

Similar words: charge for, reckon at

Common phrases: take something for, take for sixpence

To move towards a particular place.

• The fox took for the woods.
• The riders took for the nearest village.
• Seeing the hunters, the deer took for the hills.

How to use it: take for a place (The fox took for the nearby woods.)

Similar words: head for, make for

Common phrases: take for home, take for the woods