take up a collection
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Request and gather donations, as in They were taking up a collection for the church that burned down, or The veterans' group takes up a collection every month of household goods and furniture. This idiom was first recorded in 1849.
QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"
"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."
Question 1 of 7
IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?
Words nearby take up a collection
take to task, take to the cleaners, take turns, take umbrage, take-up, take up a collection, take up arms, take up for, take up on, take-up reel, take up space
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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