Prendre - French Expressions
The French verb prendre normally means "to take," but has several additional meanings, and is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized.
| prendre | to take | |
| to pick up/fetch | ||
| to catch | ||
| to dupe | ||
| to get (gas/petrol, a train ticket, etc.) | ||
| to set (cement, gelatin) | ||
| passer prendre qqun | to go pick someone up | |
| prendre l'air | to get a breath of fresh air | |
| prendre bien la chose | to take something well | |
| prendre une décision | to make a decision | |
| prendre feu | to catch fire | |
| prendre fin | to come to an end | |
| prendre le frais | to get a breath of fresh air | |
| prendre froid | to catch a cold | |
| prendre garde | to be careful, watch out | |
| prendre à gauche/droit | to turn left/right | |
| prendre goût à qqun | to take a liking to something | |
| prendre mal la chose | to take something poorly | |
| prendre au pied de la lettre | to take literally | |
| prendre du poids | to gain weight | |
| prendre un pot | (informal) | to have a drink |
| prendre qqch à qqun | to buy/get something for someone | |
| prendre qqun en grippe | to take a disliking to someone | |
| prendre qqun la main dans le sac | to catch someone red-handed | |
| prendre qqun par son point faible | to take advantage of someone's weak spot | |
| prendre rendez-vous avec | to make an appointment with | |
| prendre des risques | to take chances | |
| prendre un rhume | to catch a cold | |
| prendre sa retraite | to retire (from work) | |
| prendre au sérieux | to take seriously | |
| prendre ses jambes à son cou | to run off | |
| prendre son courage à deux mains | to get up one's courage | |
| prendre un verre | to have a drink | |
| être pris | to be tied up/busy | |
| être pris de vertige/remords/panique | to get struck by vertigo/remorse/panic | |
| un parti pris | prejudice, preconceived notion | |
| Avec moi, ça ne prends pas. | That won't work/wash with me. | |
| Ça me prend la tête ! | That drives me crazy! | |
| C'est à prendre ou à laisser. | Take it or leave it, That's my final offer. | |
| Je t'y prends ! | I've got you! | |
| On m'a pris pour ... | They thought I was ... / I was taken for ... | |
| On ne sait jamais par quel bout le prendre | You never know how to take him. | |
| Prends-ça du bon côté. | Look on the bright side. | |
| Qu'est-ce qui t'a pris ? | What's gotten into you? | |
| Que je t'y prenne ! Si je t'y prends encore ! |
If I ever catch you doing that again...! | |
| s'y prendre | to go about doing something | |
| s'en prendre à qqun | to pick on someone | |
| s'y prendre bien/mal | to do a good/bad job | |
| Il se prennent pour des intellectuels. | They think they're intellectuals. | |
| Pour qui te prends-tu ? | Who do you think you are? | |
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All about Prendre Prendre vs Amener |
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