take apart
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle apart
Meanings
Disassemble completely
Why “apart”? A whole separates into pieces, or people become more distant from each other.
“He took apart the engine to find the fault.”
“Maya took apart the old radio.”
“They had to take the bike apart to fit it in the car.”
Criticise harshly
Why “apart”? A person's work or idea is examined piece by piece and criticised very harshly.
“The critics took her performance apart.”
“The manager took the weak proposal apart.”
“Reviewers took the film apart on opening weekend.”
Don't confuse with
Take apart means disassemble completely. Take after means resemble a parent or relative.
Take apart means disassemble completely. Take away means remove something from a place.
Test yourself
“He took apart the engine to find the fault.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
take after
A contrast learners often mix up
Resemble a parent or relative
take away
A contrast learners often mix up
Remove something from a place; Buy food to eat elsewhere; Subtract a number; Learn or remember an important idea from an experience
come apart
Same apart pattern: separation
Break into pieces or stop holding together
drift apart
Same apart pattern: separation
Of two or more people, slowly become less close to each other
fall apart
Same apart pattern: separation
Break into separate pieces because something is broken; Become unable to cope emotionally; (of a relationship, plan or system) Collapse
grow apart
Same apart pattern: separation
Gradually become less interested in each other
pull apart
Same apart pattern: separation
Separate two people or things by force
tear apart
Same apart pattern: separation
Cause great unhappiness, especially in a group; Pull something so hard that it breaks into pieces; Criticise someone or something very severely
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