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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

take the plunge en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To begin any major commitment.
    • And as scientists studying the subject, we will have to conclude that she will take the plunge only if she suffers from overconfidence bias or is innately risk-loving. 2009, Saras D. Sarasvathy, Effectuation: Elements of Entrepreneurial Expertise, page 196:
    • Patrick: Joel and Brinique just went public with matching bracelets. Allen Gregory DeLongpre: Oh, he, uh, he took the plunge? Ahh, I know what that's like. 2011 Allen Gregory, "1 Night in Gottlieb" (season 1, episode 2)
    • I decided to take the plunge as Series Editor by also taking the plunge as my first volume editor. 2011, Jeffrey Runner, Experiments at the Interfaces, page ix:
  2. (idiomatic) To get engaged to be married.
    • She shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I'm thinking who am I to tell my mother she shouldn't marry." “Especially since you're about to take the plunge yourself?” he asked lightly. She opened her mouth to tell him the truth, but the interest in his expression frightened her. 2012, Stephanie Bond, Stop the Wedding!::
    • She's been seeing William now for about seven months and it looks as if they may take the plunge. 2001, Ben Young, Samuel Adams, The One: A Realistic Guide to Choosing Your Soul Mate:
    • It was easier for Morris to take the plunge – he had an independent income and was wealthy enough to build a house in the country for himself and his wife. 2002, Judith Flanders, A Circle of Sisters:
    • I was pretty much going to be the last one among my peers to take the plunge. That meant I had previously heard their unique engagement stories. 2007, Dr. David Gudgel, Brent Gudgel, Before You Get Engaged, page 203:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
takes the plunge Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
taking the plunge Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
took the plunge Tense=Past lexicographic
taken the plunge Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Relateds

jump in with both feet

Translations (16)

de etwas wagen (to begin a commitment) · de einen Sprung wagen (to begin a commitment) · de es wagen (to begin a commitment) · fr franchir le pas (to begin a commitment) · pl zobowiązywać (to begin a commitment) · de etwas riskieren (to begin a commitment) · fr sauter le pas (to begin a commitment) · fr se jeter à l'eau (to begin a commitment) · de einen Schritt tun (to begin a commitment) · de es riskieren (to begin a commitment) · fi ottaa ratkaiseva askel (to begin a commitment) · de einen Schritt wagen (to begin a commitment) · pl zobowiązać (to begin a commitment) · it buttarsi in un impresa (to begin a commitment) · it fare il grande passo (to begin a commitment) · fr se lancer (to begin a commitment)