take care

idiomatic phrase

1

: to be careful or watchful : to exercise caution or prudence

Because fish is more delicate than beef, take care when pounding it thin.

—Sam Gugino

Patients also should take care in storing their drugs because heat exposure could affect their efficacy, [Aaron] Bernstein says.

—Marlene Cimons

—often used informally to express good wishes when parting, at the end of a message, etc.

I'll see you next week. Take care!

2

: to give particular attention to doing or not doing something

When he had finished writing, Cluny pushed the parchment under his pillow, taking care to leave just a small corner of it jutting out.

—Brian Jacques

In this land of ritual, Westerners should take care to inform themselves of protocol.

—Jeff Morgan

Open oysters carefully just before they are required, taking care not to spill the liquor in their deep shells.

—Elizabeth Craig

see also take care of

Examples of take care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those who order through the shop will have USPS take care of packaging and shipping on their behalf. —Saleen Martin, The Courier-Journal, 6 Dec. 2024

Despite falling to the ground while handing the ball off to David Montgomery on the ensuing play, Lions quarterback Jared Goff was able to make the transition and his running back took care of the rest. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Those who order through the shop will have the Postal Service take care of packaging and shipping on their behalf. —Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024

During his campaign, President-elect Trump said that increased tariffs would take care of the problem. —Emily Peck, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 2