take down

write down what someone says

B1

What does "take sth down" mean?

This sense of 'take down' means to write or record information that someone is saying to you, often while they are speaking. It is commonly used in professional situations — for example, a police officer taking down a witness's statement, a receptionist taking down a caller's name and number, or a secretary taking down the minutes of a meeting. The key idea is that one person is speaking and another person is recording what they say. This makes 'take down' slightly more formal and official-feeling than similar phrases like 'write down' or 'jot down'. It can refer to writing by hand, typing, or even recording in shorthand — the focus is on capturing what someone says, not just making a personal note.

Examples

How to use it

take down + information

The most common pattern, used when the object is a noun phrase referring to spoken information such as details, a name, a number, or a message.

The customer service agent took down the caller's address and said someone would be in touch.

take + object + down

With short noun objects, the two parts of the phrasal verb can be split so the object sits in the middle.

The officer took the witness's name and number down before the interview began.

take + pronoun + down

When the object is a pronoun, you must split the verb — the pronoun always goes between 'take' and 'down'.

She read out her reference number and I took it down straight away.

be taken down

The passive form is natural when the focus is on the information being recorded rather than the person doing the recording.

All the complaints were taken down and passed to the manager at the end of the day.

take down + what + clause

Used when you want to describe recording what someone says using a clause rather than a noun phrase — the clause stays attached to 'down' without splitting.

Make sure you take down what the doctor tells you so you don't forget anything.

Common Collocations

take down the detailstake down a messagetake down a name and addresstake down the minutestake down a statementtake down a number

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'take' and 'down'. Placing the pronoun after 'down' is ungrammatical in English.

✗ I'll take down it as soon as you're ready.
✓ I'll take it down as soon as you're ready.
Confusing 'take down' with 'write down'

'Write down' simply means to put something in writing, and works in any context — including personal notes. 'Take down' specifically suggests recording what someone else is saying, often in a more formal or official situation. Using 'take down' for your own personal notes sounds slightly unnatural.

✗ I took down my own ideas in a notebook during lunch.
✓ I wrote down my own ideas in a notebook during lunch.
Using a physical object

'Take down' in this sense only works with informational objects like a name, number, address, or message. If the object is something physical — like a poster or a shelf — 'take down' means something completely different (to remove or dismantle it).

✗ The receptionist took down the visitor's coat. (if you mean she recorded something)
✓ The receptionist took down the visitor's details.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both professional and everyday situations. It often implies one person is speaking while another is writing — slightly more formal than 'write down' or 'jot down'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'take down' only mean writing by hand, or can it include typing?

It includes both. 'Take down' refers to recording spoken information in any form — by hand, by typing, or even in shorthand. The important thing is that someone else is speaking and you are recording what they say.

Can I use 'take down' when I'm making notes for myself — like in a class?

It's possible, but 'take down' most naturally implies one person is speaking and another is recording, often in a formal setting. If you're making your own personal notes in class, 'write down' or 'note down' sounds more natural.

Does 'take down' always mean recording information? I've heard it used in other ways.

Yes, 'take down' has more than one meaning. In this sense, it specifically means to record something that is said. It can also mean to remove or dismantle something physical, like a sign or scaffolding — that's a completely different meaning and is covered separately.

Is 'take down' used in everyday conversation, or only in professional situations?

It works in both. While it is very common in professional contexts like police work, customer service, and office settings, you can also use it in everyday conversation — for example, asking a friend to take down a phone number for you.

Can I say 'I was taking down notes' to describe something that was happening at a specific time?

It's better to say 'I was taking notes down' or simply use 'taking down notes' carefully — but note that the present perfect continuous form ('I have been taking down notes') sounds awkward and is best avoided. The past continuous ('She was taking down the details') is natural and correct.

Related Phrasal Verbs

note sth down
write sth down

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