take the point

English

Alternative forms

• take someone's point (take your point)
• take one's point (take my point)
• take point of (someone)

Etymology

take + the + point

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

take the point (third-person singular simple present takes the point, present participle taking the point, simple past took the point, past participle taken the point)

1. (idiomatic) To agree with what a person says, to be persuaded by their arguments.
   • 1914, P. G. Wodehouse, “Deep Waters”, in The Man Upstairs and Other Stories:

     "Then," said Mr Mifflin, cordially, "say no more. I take your point. My objections are removed."

   • 2002, Richard D. Leppert, “Commentary: Music and Mass Culture,”, in Essays on Music, →ISBN, page 345:

     Wading through the apparent sarcasm, we can take his point that the "badness" common to popular music as a whole is not excused by the small amount of it that is notably good.

2. (idiomatic) To grasp the essential meaning of what a person is saying, to understand a person's argument and point of view.
   • 1900, Henry James, Mrs. Medwin:

     I take your point well enough, but mayn't you be after all quite wrong?

   • 1909, H. G. Wells, chapter 5, in Tono-Bungay:

     "I played 'em off one against the other," said my uncle. I took his point in an instant. He had gone to each of them in turn and said the others had come in.

Synonyms

• (grasp the essential meaning): get the point
• see the point
• point taken

Related terms

• get the meaning
• have a point
• take the meaning

 

Translations

to agree with someone

• Italian: concordare (it), essere d'accordo

to understand someone's argument

• Italian: comprendere (it), capire (it)