Dictionary

take one's time en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To go about something slowly and carefully or at one's own pace.
   • More minutes drifted by. Pierrot had another chance - and missed. At one point the ball fell to Andy Robertson and instead of taking his time and clearing, he hoofed it away as if his life depended on it. His football life, for sure. 2026 June 14, Tom English, “Why Haiti v Scotland was antidote to the ills of world football”, in BBC Sport:
   • Working with pick, shovel, and wheelbarrow, he took his time over the job, for it was not until May 17, 1816, that it was opened for traffic. 1951 July, “Notes and News: Recalling 160 Years”, in Railway Magazine, page 492:
   • "I love rock 'n roll So put another dime in the jukebox, baby I love rock 'n roll So come and take your time and dance with me" 1975 July, Alan Merrill, Jake Hooker, “I Love Rock 'n' Roll”, in I Love Rock 'n Roll, performed by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, published January 1982:
   • Take your time — there's no need to rush.
2. (idiomatic, intransitive) To take more time to do something than is considered acceptable.
   • You sure took your time getting here!

Forms

Relateds

bide one's time · all in good time · take one's sweet time · in one's own time · give someone time · take time

Synonyms

tarry (take more time to do something than is considered acceptable) · take too long (take more time to do something than is considered acceptable) · dawdle (take more time to do something than is considered acceptable)

Translations (25)

it prendersela comoda (go about something slowly and carefully) · gd gabh ùine (take more time to do something than is considered acceptable) · de sich Zeit lassen (go about something slowly and carefully) · hu nem kell kapkodnia (go about something slowly and carefully) · cmn 慢慢来 (go about something slowly and carefully) · it prendersela comoda (take more time to do something than is considered acceptable) · et mitte kiirustama (go about something slowly and carefully) · cmn 不着急 (go about something slowly and carefully) · pl marudzić (take more time to do something than is considered acceptable) · hu ráérünk (go about something slowly and carefully) · nl de tijd nemen (go about something slowly and carefully) · gd gabh ùine (go about something slowly and carefully) · es tomarse su tiempo (take more time to do something than is considered acceptable) · ga glac am (go about something slowly and carefully) · ca prendre el seu temps (go about something slowly and carefully) · pl nie śpieszyć się (go about something slowly and carefully) · de langsam angehen (go about something slowly and carefully) · fr prendre son temps (go about something slowly and carefully) · fi tehdä rauhassa (go about something slowly and carefully) · fr prendre son temps (take more time to do something than is considered acceptable) · ga tóg am (go about something slowly and carefully) · hu nem kapkodja el (take more time to do something than is considered acceptable) · et mitte kiirustama (take more time to do something than is considered acceptable) · es tomarse su tiempo (go about something slowly and carefully) · it con comodo (go about something slowly and carefully)