take it, or leave it

See also: take it or leave it

English

Phrase

take it, or leave it

1. Uncommon form of take it or leave it.
   • 1605 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, Ben: Ionson His Volpone or The Foxe, [London]: […] [George Eld] for Thomas Thorppe, published 1607, →OCLC, Act II, scene ii, signature E2, recto:

     You all know (honourable Gentlemen) I neuer valew’d this ampulla, or violl, at leſſe then eight Crownes, but for this time, I am content, to be depriu’d of it for for ſixe; ſixe Crownes is the price; and leſſe, in curteſie, I know you cannot offer mee; take it, or leaue it, howſoeuer, both it, and I am at your ſeruice.

   • 1675, [Vincent Alsop], “Concerning the Nature of our Union to Christ, Whereby, we are entituled to all his fulness, Righteousness, &c.”, in Anti-sozzo, sive Sherlocismus Enervatus: In Vindication of Some Great Truths Opposed, and Opposition to Some Great Errors Maintained by Mr. William Sherlock, London: […] Nathanael Ponder […], →OCLC, page 678:

     So he was ſo well pleaſed with the Obedience of Chriſts Life, that for the ſake of it, he entred-into a Covenant of Grace with Mankind. Really it muſt be ſo, Reader; take it, or leave it; for look what influence Adams Diſobedience had upon God to provoke him to condemn the World, the ſame influence had Chriſts obedience upon God to pleaſe him to ſave the World.

   • 1884, H[enry] Rider Haggard, chapter XVI, in Dawn […], volume II, London: Hurst and Blackett, […], →OCLC, page 231:

     I offer one hundred thousand, and am willing to settle thirty thousand absolutely on the girl should she marry you, and twenty thousand more on my death. That is my offer—take it, or leave it.

   • 1889, Mrs. O.F. Walton [i.e., Amy Catherine Walton], “A Terrible Bargain”, in Winter’s Folly (The Lamplighter Rare Collector’s Series), Waverly, Pa.: Lamplighter Publishing, published 2004 February, →ISBN, pages 86–87:

     “There would be very great harm. It would only unsettle the child, and the year’s work would be undone in a day. Now,” he said to me, “you know my terms, and you hear my offer; take it, or leave it, as you think fit.”

   • 2003, Simon Scarrow, chapter 27, in The Eagle and the Wolves (Eagles of the Empire; 4), London: Headline Book Publishing, published 2004, →ISBN, page 281:

     ‘Sorry. All gone. Only thing left is this.’ He tapped a set of the new segmented armour that was beginning to find favour in the legions. ‘Take it, or leave it, sir.’

   • 2009, Loucinda McGary, chapter 11, in The Treasures of Venice, Naperville, Ill.: Sourcebooks Casablanca, →ISBN, page 226:

     But I know where they are, and if anything happens to Kathleen, I’ll take the secret to my grave. That’s my offer. Take it, or leave it. And we have an hour and fifty-five minutes.

   • 2013, Donna K. Childree, Mike L. Hopper, chapter 4, in The Wayward Gifted – Broken Point, [Ann Arbor, Mich.]: MiloNerak Press, →ISBN, page 48:

     We can go home now if you’re determined to continue this extortion. Three weeks. I’ll do it for three weeks, but not a day over. Take it, or leave it. I don’t care at this point.

   • 2017 January 3, Patience Griffin, chapter 5, in It Happened in Scotland (Kilts and Quilts; 6), New York, N.Y.: Berkley Sensation, →ISBN, pages 96–97:

     Before the old woman could shove the drawing into her pocket, Rachel snatched it from her hand. “Hannah is part of the deal. Take it, or leave it.”