take steps


Begin a course of action, as in The town is taking steps to provide better street lights, or They took steps to keep their plans secret. [Early 1600s]

Words Nearby take steps

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

How to use take steps in a sentence

  • The workmen as we have seen could not, the masters would not, take steps in this direction.

  • Nasica demanded of the consul Scvola, who presided, to take steps to prevent the relection of Tiberius Gracchus.

  • We will be content to make haste slowly and take steps to prevent the evils that have defeated those who have gone before.

    Heroes of To-Day | Mary R. Parkman
  • If he, or they, or any of them choose to take steps to annoy her, let her attorney manage that in the usual way.

    Orley Farm | Anthony Trollope
  • It was, in truth, only a matter of time; and on Monday Mr. Wakefield would come down and begin to take steps.

    Magnum Bonum | Charlotte M. Yonge