Idiom
Take it out on someone
What does 'take it out on someone' mean?
'Take it out on someone' means treating an uninvolved person badly because you are angry, stressed, or upset about another situation. For example, 'Please do not take your disappointment out on your colleagues.' Put the person after 'on', and use 'took' for completed past actions.
Key points
- The expression describes unfairly redirected anger or stress.
- The target person comes after the preposition 'on'.
- Use 'took' as the simple past form of 'take'.
- Name the emotion between 'take' and 'out on'.
Can you use "Take it out on someone" yourself?
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
The full explanation
Take something out on someone means make that person suffer because of anger or upset caused by another situation, even though they are not responsible.
Do not take your frustration out on the support team.
Why it works: The team should not become the target of frustration caused elsewhere.
2 more examples
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She took it out on her flatmate after receiving the bad news.
Her flatmate suffered from feelings caused by the news.
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You can be upset, but it is unfair to take it out on someone else.
The feeling is accepted while harmful redirection is rejected.
Read the full guide
Deciding When Anger Is Misdirected
People often experience anger or pressure in one environment and discharge that tension onto an innocent person elsewhere. When you observe someone treating a friend, coworker, or family member poorly because of an unrelated problem, the idiom take it out on someone describes that exact behavior. Recognizing this shift helps you name the dynamic objectively without accepting unfair treatment.
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Marcus had a terrible commute, but he should not take it out on his roommate.
Why it works: The commute caused the frustration, yet the roommate receives the unpleasant reaction.
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When dinner arrived cold, the customer took it out on the server rather than speaking to the manager.
Why it works: The server did not cook the food, making the angry response misdirected.
Your turn
Which situation correctly illustrates the phrase 'take it out on someone'?
Answer: A driver stuck in traffic arrives home and yells at their partner over an unwashed mug.
Show the answer
Answer: A driver stuck in traffic arrives home and yells at their partner over an unwashed mug.
The partner did not cause the traffic jam, so venting frustration onto them is an unfair redirection.
Arranging the Phrase Components in Correct Order
The phrase follows a fixed structural sequence that requires careful placement of the emotional object and the target person. You place the pronoun it or the specific noun phrase directly between take and the particle cluster out on. Placing out before the emotion or dropping on creates an ungrammatical combination that native speakers will immediately notice during conversation.
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Please do not take your bad mood out on the reception team.
Why it works: The noun phrase 'your bad mood' sits right between the verb 'take' and 'out on'.
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I realize you are worried about the results, but you cannot take it out on me.
Why it works: The pronoun 'it' directly follows 'take' and precedes 'out on'.
This also comes up in Take for granted and The bottom line.
Your turn
Which sentence places the words of this idiom in the natural English order?
Answer: She took her morning frustration out on her assistant.
Show the answer
Answer: She took her morning frustration out on her assistant.
The emotional noun phrase belongs between the verb 'take' and the combined particles 'out on'.
Selecting the Past and Continuous Verb Forms
The verb take is irregular, meaning you must alter the base word rather than adding an ending like ed. For completed past events, choose took; for ongoing actions, use taking with an auxiliary verb; for perfect tenses, combine taken with have or had. Misusing regular forms like taked interrupts listening comprehension and weakens your spoken message.
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After losing the tennis match, he took his disappointment out on his coach.
Why it works: The simple past form 'took' marks an action completed immediately after the match.
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She realized she was taking her office stress out on her children every evening.
Why it works: The past continuous form 'was taking' shows repeated behavior across an extended period.
Your turn
Which sentence uses the correct past tense form of the idiom?
Answer: He took his frustration out on the computer keyboard.
Show the answer
Answer: He took his frustration out on the computer keyboard.
The standard simple past form of 'take' is 'took', never 'taked' or 'has took'.
Deciding Between General and Specific Emotion Words
While the pronoun it works when the cause is already obvious to everyone present, inserting a specific noun clarifies the exact feeling driving the reaction. Nouns like stress, anger, anxiety, or resentment fit smoothly into the object slot. Using a precise noun helps listeners understand the emotional root while keeping the focus on the inappropriate action.
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Do not take your financial worries out on your family.
Why it works: Replacing 'it' with 'your financial worries' pinpoints the specific root of the pressure.
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He took his personal insecurity out on new team members during reviews.
Why it works: The noun phrase 'his personal insecurity' defines the underlying motive clearly.
Your turn
When is it preferable to replace 'it' with a specific noun like 'frustration'?
Answer: Whenever you want to state clearly what emotion is causing the mistreatment.
Show the answer
Answer: Whenever you want to state clearly what emotion is causing the mistreatment.
Naming the emotion explicitly gives clear context when the background cause has not been discussed.
Distinguishing Misdirection from Legitimate Feedback
Learners sometimes confuse taking anger out on someone with delivering deserved criticism or expressing honest disappointment. When a supervisor addresses an error caused directly by an employee, that exchange is direct feedback, not misdirection. The idiom applies exclusively when the recipient is blameless or when the severity of the reaction vastly exceeds any minor mistake because of external strain.
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Giving constructive notes on a report is regular management, but shouting about unrelated delays takes it out on the writer.
Why it works: The contrast distinguishes legitimate performance feedback from unfair emotional venting.
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If a friend forgets your birthday, expressing sadness is direct communication rather than taking it out on them.
Why it works: The emotional reaction matches the immediate event and addresses the person actually responsible.
Your turn
In which situation is the idiom 'take it out on' NOT appropriate?
Answer: A manager calmly corrects an accountant for an arithmetic error in today's balance sheet.
Show the answer
Answer: A manager calmly corrects an accountant for an arithmetic error in today's balance sheet.
Direct, calm correction about an actual mistake is legitimate feedback, not misplaced anger.
Hearing Linked Consonants in Connected Speech
In conversational English, native speakers blend the words take, it, out, and on into a continuous stream of sound. The final consonant of take links into the vowel of it, while the voiceless stops in it and out often become soft taps before vowels. The sequence sounds roughly like tay-ki-dow-ton, which can make individual word boundaries difficult to isolate if you expect clear pauses.
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Do not take it out on me.
Why it works: The consonant sounds link across word boundaries, creating a smooth, connected phrase.
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She took it out on everyone nearby.
Why it works: The final consonant /k/ in 'took' connects smoothly into the vowel sound /ɪ/ in 'it'.
Your turn
Why does the phrase 'take it out on' sound like a single word in fast conversation?
Answer: Final consonants connect directly into the starting vowels of following words.
Show the answer
Answer: Final consonants connect directly into the starting vowels of following words.
Linking consonants across word boundaries creates an unbroken chain of syllables in natural speech.
Responding Calmly When Someone Takes Frustration Out on You
When you become the target of another person's unrelated bad mood, responding with hostility usually escalates the confrontation. Using the phrase take it out on me within a neutral, firm boundary statement acknowledges their distress without accepting mistreatment. Phrasing your objection around the behavior rather than an attack on their character keeps professional and personal interactions productive.
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I can see you are under immense pressure today, but please do not take it out on me.
Why it works: This statement validates the speaker's emotional state while establishing a clear behavioral limit.
-
Let us pause this conversation so you do not take your frustration with head office out on the crew.
Why it works: Suggesting a short break stops unfair redirection before work relationships suffer.
Your turn
What is the primary benefit of saying 'I know you are stressed, but please do not take it out on me'?
Answer: It validates their emotional reality while establishing a firm personal boundary.
Show the answer
Answer: It validates their emotional reality while establishing a firm personal boundary.
The sentence recognizes real distress while clearly refusing to absorb unfair mistreatment.
Repairing Relationships After an Outburst
Everyone occasionally misdirects emotional stress onto nearby colleagues or family members during overwhelming days. A mature apology requires explicitly naming your error, taking full ownership, and assuring the other person that they did not cause your reaction. Using the idiom in an apology demonstrates self-awareness and restores mutual respect without inventing excuses.
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I am sorry for snapping earlier; I had a painful headache and took it out on you.
Why it works: The speaker takes accountability for the outburst and clarifies that the listener was not at fault.
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I should have managed my workload better instead of taking my anxiety out on the team.
Why it works: This apology identifies personal responsibility and acknowledges the unfair impact on coworkers.
Your turn
Which apology best repairs a working relationship after an emotional outburst?
Answer: I apologize for my sharp tone earlier; I was anxious about deadlines and took it out on you.
Show the answer
Answer: I apologize for my sharp tone earlier; I was anxious about deadlines and took it out on you.
This option accepts personal ownership and acknowledges the misdirected stress without blaming the coworker.
Other meanings of "take it out on someone"
This lesson practises one meaning. You may also hear these.
To release stress or frustration through a physical activity or object.
He took his frustration out on the punching bag.
Common mistakes with "take it out on someone"
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
-
Not this:
He taked his anxiety out on his brother.Say: He took his anxiety out on his brother.
'Take' has the irregular past form 'took', not 'taked'.
-
Not this:
She took out on her colleague her frustration.Say: She took her frustration out on her colleague.
The emotion must come between 'take' and the fixed phrase 'out on'.
-
Not this:
Please do not take your stress out me.Say: Please do not take your stress out on me.
The fixed expression requires 'on' before the person receiving the behaviour.
-
Not this:
They took their anger on the receptionist.Say: They took their anger out on the receptionist.
The idiom requires the complete particle sequence 'out on'.
Use it naturally
How people really use “take it out on someone”
Neutral Fine almost anywhere, at work or with friends.
Words it often goes with
- take your frustration out onPlease don't take your frustration out on the cashier.
- take your anger out onYou shouldn't take your anger out on the other players.
- take it out on someone elseWhen a plan fails, it is unfair to take it out on someone else.
What people also say
- “Don't take it out on me.” instead of “Do not direct your unrelated anger toward me.”This is a direct, everyday way to set a boundary.
Questions about "Take it out on someone"
How is 'take it out on someone' different from 'take someone out'?
The two expressions describe completely different situations. 'Take someone out' means to invite someone to a social activity like dinner or a movie, usually paying for them. In contrast, 'take it out on someone' means treating someone unkindly because of upset caused by another problem. The presence of the pronoun 'it' and the preposition 'on' completely transforms the meaning.
My uncle offered to take me out for lunch on my birthday.
Please do not take your frustration out on the restaurant server.
Can I use 'take it out on someone' in the passive voice?
Native speakers rarely use this idiom in the passive voice because it sounds unnatural. While you might technically hear 'He hates being taken it out on', standard English speakers avoid this awkward phrasing. Instead, use active constructions like 'He hates it when people take their anger out on him' or choose a different verb like 'targeted' or 'blamed unfairly'.
She dislikes it when managers take their bad moods out on the team.
Nobody enjoys being the person on whom others vent their frustration.
Can I put the emotion word after 'out' instead of before it?
In standard contemporary English, the emotion noun phrase belongs before 'out on', as in 'take your anger out on me'. While you might occasionally hear 'take out your anger on someone' in informal speech, placing the noun between 'take' and 'out on' is the preferred and most natural pattern for adult learners.
He took his resentment out on his closest friends.
Try not to take your exhaustion out on the children tonight.
Is 'take it out on someone' always negative, or can it be positive?
The phrase is virtually always negative because it refers to unfair, misdirected mistreatment. However, you can use 'take it out on' with inanimate physical activities in a constructive way, such as exercising. For example, taking your stress out on a punching bag or running track is a healthy emotional outlet.
Whenever work becomes overwhelming, she takes her frustration out on the running track.
Going to the gym allows him to take his daily tension out on the weights.
Before you go
Remember this
Use take it out on someone for unfairly redirected upset, put the target after on, use took for the past, and distinguish valid feelings from harmful behaviour.
Stage 2 of 5
Listen
Hear it in real sentences, from short to long, and write what you hear.
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- She took it out on her flatmate after receiving the bad news.
- You can be upset, but it is unfair to take it out on someone else.
Read the transcript
Never take your anger out on me.
The speaker sets a clear boundary by demanding that the other person stop redirecting anger onto an innocent listener.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "ange-rout": the r in "anger" connects smoothly to "out".
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "ange-rout": the r in "anger" connects smoothly to "out".
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "ange-rout": the r in "anger" connects smoothly to "out".
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- She took it out on her flatmate after receiving the bad news.
- You can be upset, but it is unfair to take it out on someone else.
Read the transcript
He often takes his work stress out on his family.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "stres-sout": the final s sound in "stress" connects to "out".
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "stres-sout": the final s sound in "stress" connects to "out".
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- She took it out on her flatmate after receiving the bad news.
- You can be upset, but it is unfair to take it out on someone else.
Read the transcript
Elena had a rough afternoon at work, so she took her frustration out on her brother during dinner.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
0:00
- She took it out on her flatmate after receiving the bad news.
- You can be upset, but it is unfair to take it out on someone else.
Read the transcript
After losing an account earlier today, our director seemed quite annoyed during lunch. He criticized my report unfairly, even though everyone knows I was not involved in negotiations. I realize he was anxious about company revenue, but he really should not take it out on coworkers who work hard every single day.
The speaker separates the director's valid business stress from the unfair treatment directed at blameless coworkers.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
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Save my progressStage 3 of 5
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Say it with the speaker, then use it in your own answer.
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Never take your anger out on me.
Play the line slowly, then speak at the same time as the speaker. Copy the rhythm, not just the words.
Your turn
Say it your way
Speak for 30 to 60 seconds from memory. At a community basketball game, a player misses a shot and starts blaming a volunteer who keeps score. You are the team captain. Explain how you would step in and help the player repair the situation.
Use: take it out on take your frustration out on
Think for ten seconds, then answer out loud for as long as the task above asks, without looking at the lesson. Nothing is sent unless you ask for feedback.
0:00
Hear how someone else might say it
First, I would ask the player to step away from the court for a moment. I would say, "I know you're disappointed about that shot, but don't take it out on the volunteer. She's only keeping score. It's unfair to take your frustration out on someone who didn't cause the problem." Then I'd give him a minute to calm down. Before he returned to the game, I'd ask him to apologize to her. A simple apology would help, but he would also need to treat her respectfully for the rest of the game.
Try once more and answer this: What would you say if the player kept blaming the volunteer?
Stage 4 of 5
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