take care of (someone/something)

1. to be responsible for someone or something.

Our parents spent a lot of time taking care of us when we were young.

My mother-in-law fell and could not take care of herself anymore.

My wife takes care of paying the bills.

2. to deal with a difficult situation or person.

I was forced to take care of all the financial reports, lawyers, and contracts.

The principal usually takes care of students who won't follow the rules.

Related vocabulary: look after someone/something

• give someone away
• give someone a wide berth
• give someone carte blanche
• give someone chapter and verse
• give someone due
• give someone enough rope
• give someone enough rope to hang
• give someone enough rope to hang themselves
• give someone first refusal
• give someone food for thought
• give someone free reign
• give someone free rein
• give someone grief
• give someone hell
• give someone house room
• give someone pause
• give someone pause for thought
• give someone short shrift
• give someone some stick
• give someone ... stick
• give someone stick
• give someone the benefit of the doubt
• give someone the bird
• give someone the boot
• give someone the cold shoulder