take steps

take steps (to prevent something)

Fig. to do what is necessary to prevent something. I took steps to prevent John from learning what we were talking about. I have to keep John from knowing what I've been doing. I can prevent it if I take steps.

take steps

Begin a course of action, as in The town is taking steps to provide better street lights, or They took steps to keep their plans secret. [Early 1600s]

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Dave	DAYV	English
Vlastimil	-	Czech
Tucker	TUK-ər	English (Modern)
Tatiana	tah-TYAH-nah (Russian, Polish, Spanish, Italian), TAH-tee-ah-nah (Finnish), ta-tee-AN-ə (English), ta-TYAN-ə (English)	Russian, Slovak, Bulgarian, Romanian, Polish, Greek, Georgian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Finnish
Berat	-	Turkish
Tibor	-	Hungarian, Czech, Slovak