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take apart

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take someone apart

 

1. Sl. to beat someone up. (See also take something apart.) Don't talk to me that way, or I'll take you apart. He was so mad that I thought he was going to take apart all of us.

2. Inf. to criticize or defame someone or something. They really took me apart, but I just ignore bad reviews. The editorial took apart the entire city government.

See also: apart, take

take something apart

 

1. Lit. to disassemble something. (See also take someone apart.) Bobby took his bicycle apart. You take apart everything that is mechanical.

2. Fig. to damage or ruin something. The wreck took both cars apart. The high wind took apart the roof and the fence.

3. Fig. to criticize something severely. The critic took the play apart. The teacher took apart John's essay in front of the class.

See also: apart, take

take somebody apart

to try to understand a person by examining their personality and character That psychiatrist wanted to take me apart to see what makes me tick.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of take something apart (separate the parts of something)

See also: apart, take

take something apart

also take apart something

to examine something carefully in order to completely understand it I decided to take apart this popular word a€?subculturea€? and see what it really means.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of take something apart (separate the parts of something)

See also: apart, take

take apart

1. Dismantle or disassemble, as in They had to take apart the stereo before they could move it. This usage was first recorded in 1936.

2. Examine thoroughly, analyze or dissect, as in The teacher embarrassed Tom by taking his thesis apart in front of the class. [Mid-1900s]

3. Beat up, thrash, as in You'd better be careful; those boys will take you apart. [Slang; mid-1900s]

See also: apart, take

take apart

v.

1. To disconnect the parts of something; disassemble something: I took apart the radio to find out what was wrong. The plumber took the drain apart to fix it.

2. To dissect or analyze something in an effort to understand it: He took apart my theory and found a few flaws. The professor took my conclusions apart and said they were invalid.

3. To criticize something or someone severely: The boss didn't like my report much and really took it apart. The committee took apart my budget as being too wasteful.

4. Slang To beat someone severely; thrash someone: I'm going to take you apart in this fight. Go take apart that bully!

See also: apart, take