Expressions with prendre Using prendre

Prendre usually means "to take," both literally and figuratively:

Il m'a pris par le bras
He took me by the arm

Tu peux le prendre dans le tiroir
You can take it out of the drawer

Je vais prendre une photo
I'm going to take a picture

Prenez votre temps
Take your time

Prendre has a number of other meanings as well:

1. to come over, strike

La colère m'a pris
I was overcome with anger

Qu'est-ce qui te prend ? (informal)
What's come over you? What's the matter with you?

2. to catch

Je l'ai pris à tricher
I caught him cheating

3. to take in, dupe, fool

On ne m'y prendra plus !
They won't fool me again!

4. to handle, deal with

Il y a plusieurs moyens de prendre le problème
There are several ways to deal with the problem

5. to set

Le ciment n'a pas encore pris
The cement hasn't set yet

6. to do well, catch on, be successful

Ce livre va prendre
This book is going to be a great success

7. to catch, start

J'espère que le bois va prendre
I hope the wood catches on fire

Prendre can also mean "to pick up" or "to fetch," especially when used with another verb:

Passe me prendre à midi
Come (by and) pick me up at noon

Peux-tu me prendre demain ?
Can you pick me up tomorrow?

Se prendre

Se prendre has several possible meanings as well:

1. to consider oneself

Il se prend pour un expert
He thinks he's an expert

2. to get caught, trapped

Ma manche s'est prise dans la porte
My sleeve got caught in the door

3. s'en prendre à - to blame, challenge, attack

Tu ne peux t'en prendre qu'à toi-même
You've only got yourself to blame

Il s'en est pris à son chien
He took it out on his dog

4. s'y prendre à - to do something about it

Il faut s'y prendre
We have to do something about it, We have to take care of it

Expressions with prendre

prendre sa retraite - to retire

prendre une décision - to make a decision

prendre un pot (informal) - to have a drink

Qu'est-ce qui t'a pris ? - What's gotten into you?

More expressions with prendre