take your time

take your time — idiom

1. used to tell someone they do not need to hurry, or to encourage them to go at a

1.慣用語B1
釋義

used to tell someone they do not need to hurry, or to encourage them to go at a relaxed pace

例句

Minho told the new chef to take his time with the complicated order.

take your time + with + task

Take your time filling out the form — there is no line behind you.

take your time + -ing verb

同義詞
反義詞
  • hurry up

    the direct opposite — urging someone to go faster

用法筆記

Often used as a gentle imperative to reassure someone. The possessive pronoun changes to match the subject (take your time / take his time / take their time).

常見錯誤

❌Take it easy with your homework.
✅Take your time with your homework.
💡'take it easy' means to relax or not worry; 'take your time' means not to rush.
❌Take your time!' (shouted angrily at a slow person).
✅Hurry up!
💡using 'take your time' sarcastically can cause confusion for learners; it is almost always friendly and encouraging.

2. to spend more time on a task than is reasonable or expected, often causing frust

2.慣用語B1
釋義

to spend more time on a task than is reasonable or expected, often causing frustration for others

例句

The plumber took his time fixing the leak while water soaked the kitchen floor.

negative sense: took his time + -ing

Talia took her time packing and they nearly missed the last train home.

took her time + -ing, negative consequence

同義詞
  • dawdle

    more informal and clearly negative; suggests aimless slowness

  • drag one's feet

    implies deliberate delay, often to avoid doing something

反義詞

用法筆記

Carries a tone of mild criticism or annoyance. Distinguish from sense 1 (DON'T RUSH), which is friendly and encouraging.

常見錯誤

❌The waiter told me to take my time, so I ordered quickly.
✅The waiter told me to take my time, so I looked through the whole menu.
💡when someone says 'take your time' they mean you should NOT rush; taking your time is the opposite of being quick.

3. to require a long period to finish or to produce a result, especially when waiti

3.慣用語B1
釋義

to require a long period to finish or to produce a result, especially when waiting feels difficult

例句

Good sourdough bread takes its time — you cannot rush the rising process.

takes its time: subject is a thing, not a person

The medicine will take its time to work; do not expect results by morning.

同義詞
  • be time-consuming

    neutral and factual; often used in formal or technical contexts

  • take a while

    more casual; implies a shorter wait than 'take your time'

反義詞
  • be instant

    happens immediately, with no waiting at all

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2 (BE TOO SLOW): sense 3 describes an objective fact about how long something needs, without criticism. The subject is usually a process, task, or thing, not a person.