take-in

[ teyk-in ]
/ ˈteɪkˌɪn /

noun Informal.

a deception, fraud, or imposition.

Origin of take-in

First recorded in 1770–80; noun use of verb phrase take in

Definition for take in (2 of 2)

Origin of take

before 1100; Middle English taken to take, strike, lay hold of, grasp, late Old English tacan to grasp, touch < Old Norse taka to take; cognate with Middle Dutch taken to grasp, Gothic tekan to touch

synonym study for take

1. See bring.

OTHER WORDS FROM take

tak·a·ble, take·a·ble, adjective tak·er, noun un·tak·a·ble, adjective un·take·a·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH take

bring take (see synonym study at bring)

British Dictionary definitions for take in (1 of 3)

take in

verb (tr, adverb)

noun take-in

informal the act or an instance of cheating or deceiving

British Dictionary definitions for take in (2 of 3)

take 1
/ (teɪk) /

verb takes, taking, took or taken (mainly tr)

noun

Derived forms of take

takable or takeable, adjective

Word Origin for take

Old English tacan, from Old Norse taka; related to Gothic tekan to touch

British Dictionary definitions for take in (3 of 3)

take 2
/ (ˈtɑːkɪ) /

noun

NZ a topic or cause

Word Origin for take

Māori

Idioms and Phrases with take in (1 of 2)

take in

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.

Idioms and Phrases with take in (2 of 2)

take