take in

take in idiom
  1. Admit, receive as a guest or employee, as in They offered to take in two of the orphaned children. [First half of 1500s]
  2. Reduce in size, make smaller or shorter, as in I've lost some weight so I'll have to take in my clothes. [Early 1500s]
  3. Include or constitute, as in This list takes in all the members, past and present. [Mid-1600s]
  4. Understand, as in I couldn't take in all that French dialogue in the movie. [Second half of 1600s]
  5. Deceive, swindle, as in That alleged fundraiser took me in completely. [First half of 1700s]
  6. Look at thoroughly, as in We want to take in all the sights. [First half of 1700s]
  7. Accept work to be done at home, as in His grandmother took in washing to support her children. [First half of 1800s]
  8. Receive as proceeds, as in We had a good audience; how much did we take in? [Late 1800s] Also see the following entries beginning with take in.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.