what it takes

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

what it takes (uncountable)

1. (US, idiomatic) Everything that is required, especially skill or endurance.

   You don't know what it takes to succeed at competitive frisbee.

   • 1974, Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon, “Bette Davis Eyes”, in Mistaken Identity‎^[1], performed by Kim Carnes, published 1981:

     She's precocious, and she knows just / What it takes to make a pro blush

See also

• have it in oneself
• whatever it takes