English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

take + the + point

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Verb edit

take the point (third-person singular simple present takes the point, present participle taking the point, simple past took the point, past participle taken the point)

  1. (idiomatic) To agree with what a person says, to be persuaded by their arguments.
    • 1914, P. G. Wodehouse, “Deep Waters”, in The Man Upstairs and Other Stories:
      "Then," said Mr Mifflin, cordially, "say no more. I take your point. My objections are removed."
    • 2002, Richard D. Leppert, “Commentary: Music and Mass Culture,”, in Essays on Music, →ISBN, page 345:
      Wading through the apparent sarcasm, we can take his point that the "badness" common to popular music as a whole is not excused by the small amount of it that is notably good.
  2. (idiomatic) To grasp the essential meaning of what a person is saying, to understand a person's argument and point of view.
    • 1900, Henry James, Mrs. Medwin:
      I take your point well enough, but mayn't you be after all quite wrong?
    • 1909, H. G. Wells, chapter 5, in Tono-Bungay:
      "I played 'em off one against the other," said my uncle. I took his point in an instant. He had gone to each of them in turn and said the others had come in.

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