take up with (one)
take up with (one)
To form a close relationship with or begin to associate or keep company with one. Often used in reference to an unsavory or untrustworthy person or group of people. He was a great student until he took up with a group of troublemakers and ended up getting expelled. Sarah has taken up with a much older man, and it makes me really uncomfortable.
See also: take, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
take up with someone
to become close with someone; to become friends with someone. I think that Albert may have taken up with the wrong people. I did not want Lefty to take up with Max, but he did, and look where it's gotten him.
See also: take, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
take up with
Begin to associate with, consort with, as in She took up with a fast crowd. [Early 1600s]
See also: take, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
take up with
Informal To begin to associate with; consort with: took up with a fast crowd.
See also: take, up
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- polecat
- associate
- associate oneself with
- associate with
- keep bad company
- get into bad company
- get into/keep bad company
- pill
- the pill
- slippery customer