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Glite Dictionary
to do what it takes

to do what it takes

18 4.8
Take any action needed to reach a goal, even when it is difficult
  • idiom
: hacer lo que sea necesario
  • If we want to win the championship, we'll have to do what it takes, no matter how hard it is.

And we we did what it took to start over now.

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Examples

  • Once you have made the decision to switch careers, do what it takes to get started.

    Blog text (20)

  • Vote in candidates who recognize sprawl and will do what it takes to stop it.

    Blog text (3)

  • You got to be willing to do what it takes.

    Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

  • I knew I was gonna do what it took to help her.

    The Girl on the Train (2014)

  • Then you must do what it takes.

    Beauty and the Least (2012)

  • You do what it takes to win.

    Traitor (2008)

  • When you love someone, you will do what it takes to keep them.

    Blog text (14)

  • I'll do what it takes to get what I want!

    Judas Kiss (2011)

  • How many are truly willing to do what it takes to affect real change?

    Blog text (19)

  • I am the one who's willing to do what it takes to seize my moment.

    Coco (2017)

Synonyms

whatever it takes
vsto do what it takes
101 5.2

Willing to do anything needed to reach a goal, however hard

is about taking all required actions to achieve a goal no matter how hard
to go to great lengths
vsto do what it takes
26 4.1

Try very hard to make something happen

highlights doing all necessary steps rather than prolonged effort alone
to pull out all the stops
vsto do what it takes
  • Informal
17 5.2

Do everything possible to make something succeed

focuses on doing all necessary acts rather than only trying hard
to try our best
vsto do what it takes
14 2.1

To make as much effort as you can to reach a goal

means taking every required action even if measures are extreme or risky
to move heaven and earth
vsto do what it takes
  • Informal
7 4.2

Do everything you can to achieve something important

stresses taking required steps rather than dramatic grand gestures
by any means necessary
vsto do what it takes
5 7.0

To do whatever is needed to reach a goal, even if the actions are difficult or harmful

limits actions to necessary measures without implying disregard for consequences
to go to the ends of the earth
vsto do what it takes
1 5.9

To try very hard and do anything to achieve something

covers all required actions generally not only distant or dramatic efforts

Antonyms

to give up
∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

How Determined

to move heaven and earth
  • Informal
7 4.2
to do what it takes
18 4.8
to try
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

do what it takes infinitive
did what it takes past
done what it takes past participle
doing what it takes present participle
does what it takes third person singular

Morphology

do + what + it + take

The meaning is directly compositional: 'do' = perform, and 'what it takes' transparently means 'whatever is required' (with 'take' understood in the common sense 'require'). This is a cross-linguistically familiar construction, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words and the 'take = require' sense can infer the overall meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Do what it takes creates a picture of someone ready to do any job or use any tool that 'it' takes to reach a goal, like working late, fixing a problem, or asking for help. So, it means to take all necessary actions, even difficult ones, to get the result you want.