take the plunge

idiomatic phrase

informal

: to do or undertake something especially after a period of hesitation or uncertainty

Up to now, I've avoided growing roses … . But last winter the ripe catalogue shots of roses took hold in my imagination, and I decided to take the plunge.

—Michael Pollan

As with any new OS upgrade, it is prudent to wait awhile before taking the plunge, to make sure others have had a chance to find all the bugs.

—Peter H. Lewis

If you've considered buying an e-reader but haven't yet taken the plunge, there's no longer a need to wait.

—Joshua J. Romero

Examples of take the plunge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Getting in the habit will be the hardest part, so take the plunge and never look back. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024

European unicorns like Klarna, Bolt, and Revolut are ready to take the plunge, and their public listings will mean significant liquidity pay-outs for early investors in start-up hubs like Stockholm and Tallinn. —Kjartan Rist, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

For those who have been holding out on an immersion blender, now's the time to take the plunge. —Carly Monardo, Bon Appétit, 2 Dec. 2024

In Massachusetts, the city of Westfield had already taken the plunge. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above