take up

phraseB22 meaningsNot compared — the two pools are counted one word at a time, so a phrase has no score

To take up is to start a new hobby — or to use up space and time. Two senses that share a word.

The hobby sense is warm and very common, so taking up running or taking up the piano describes a new beginning. The occupying sense is neutral, since a wardrobe takes up half the room and a meeting takes up an afternoon. There are two more: taking up an offer means accepting it, and taking up a matter with somebody means raising it. Taking up a hem shortens a garment.

Definitions of take up

1phrasetake upTo begin a new activity or hobby.B2
“She decided to take up sailing at sixty.”
2phraseoccupyTo occupy space or time.B2
“The boxes take up the whole landing.”

Where it comes from

take-up Deverbal from take up.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in Phrasal Verbs, A Man Called Ove

First appears in chapter 25 of A Man Called Ove.

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