Take it out on someone

Idioms | B2

Listening exercises with “Take it out on someone”

The expression to take something out on someone is used when we treat someone badly because we feel angry, tired or stressed, even though they haven’t done anything wrong. e.g. When Tim had had a bad day, he tended to take it out on his children.

When we feel angry, we sometimes direct the negative feelings at friends or family just because we need to release them. Our friends and family are just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but we are angry and we take it out on them. If you’re the victim in this situation, you can use this expression to point out the fact that you’re being treated unfairly by saying something like: Please don’t take it out on me.

Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?

Accent: England (London)