take care
take care
1. verb To be cautious or careful. Take care not to slip on the gravel as you're leaving. Be sure to take care and not get into any trouble while you're traveling. We have to take care when we're typing up the transcript not to change any words.
2. Used by extension as a parting salutation. Thanks for visiting, take care!
3. A parting salutation intended to be dismissive or indicate contempt for the one being addressed. A: "I don't think we can be friends anymore." B: "Take care then."
See also: care, take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
Take care (of yourself).
1. Good-bye and keep yourself healthy. John: I'll seeyou next month. Good-bye. Bob: Good-bye, John. Take care of yourself. Mary: Take care. Sue: Okay. See you later.
2. Take care of your health and get well. Mary: Don't worry. I'll get better soon. Sue: Well, take care of yourself. Bye. Jane: I'm sorry you're ill. Bob: Oh, it's nothing. Jane: Well, take care of yourself.
See also: care, take
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
take care
1. Be careful, use caution, as in Take care or you will slip on the ice. [Late 1500s]
2. Good-bye, as in I have to go now; take care. This apparent abbreviation of take care of yourself is used both orally and in writing, where it sometimes replaces the conventional Sincerely or Love in signing off correspondence. [Colloquial; 1960s]
See also: care, take
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
take care
said to someone on leaving them.The usage arose out of the original, more literal sense, ‘be cautious’.
See also: care, take
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
take ˈcare (that .../to do something)
be careful: Take care that you don’t fall and hurt yourself. He took great care not to let his personal problems interfere with his work.See also: care, take
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
Take care
tv. Good-bye, be careful. Take care. See you in Philly.
See also: care, take
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
take care
To be careful: Take care or you will slip on the ice.
See also: care, take
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
take care
Good-bye. This contemporary of have a nice day and no problem became current in the late 1960s or early 1970s and has spread like the proverbial wildfire. It appears both orally and in written form, replacing Sincerely, or Love in signing off informal correspondence. It does not, however, mean “be careful,” but rather appears to be a shortening of “take (good) care of yourself.”
See also: care, take
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- for all (one) cares
- for all I care
- for all I, you, etc. care
- care not a groat
- could care less
- I could care less
- see what I care
- see if I care
- See if I care!
- I couldn’t care less