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Glite Dictionary
📉 To suffer loss 🚬 To inhale smoke
to take a hit

to take a hit

138 5.0
To suffer a loss, for example in money or reputation
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : sufrir un golpe
  • The company took a huge hit in the market this week.
  • take a big hit

You are built to take a number of hits this lifetime.

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Examples

  • Well, you've got state and local governments who have been taking a huge hit as a result of COVID.

  • They've had, they've taken a big hit in the PR campaign.

  • I told them that they would take a hit, but then things would blow over.

    Stanford

  • But yeah, I think the build quality is allowed to take a hit if it means it can go smaller.

  • Well, obviously the bar scene is is taking a big hit financially.

  • The fund's investors take a hit, but they were presumably aware of the risks all along.

    Academic text (2007)

  • You know, Vayner X, our production company, which films live videos has taken a massive hit and lost half its revenue.

  • Nontraditional financial institutions, like hedge funds and insurance companies, also took a hit of about $100 billion.

    Academic text (2016)

  • The business took a hit after the controversy, affecting its reputation significantly.

  • After the poor sales report, the company's stock took a hit, losing several points in value.

Synonyms

to hit
vsto take a hit
∞ 2.8

To suddenly make someone feel a strong emotion

is about experiencing loss or setback rather than just being affected
to tumble
vsto take a hit
28 4.4

To fall suddenly in price or value

is any loss damage or setback rather than only sudden collapse
to hit the rocks
vsto take a hit
  • Informal
1 7.4

Start having serious problems that lead to failure

covers broader losses or setbacks not limited to serious collapse
to hit the buffers
vsto take a hit
  • Literature
8.4

Suddenly stop or fail because of a big problem

applies to losses or setbacks even without a total stop

Antonyms

to improve
∞ 1.0

To make something better

How Bad

devastation
13 5.8
body blow
2 7.3
to take a hit
138 5.0
setback
148 3.6
affected
3.6

Surface Forms

take a hit infinitive
taking a hit present participle
takes a hit third person singular
took a hit past
taken a hit past participle

Morphology

take + a + hit

The meaning 'to experience a loss or setback' is directly derivable from combining 'take' (to receive) with 'hit' (a blow or damage) — the phrase literally means to receive a blow and metaphorically extends to reputation/finances. This metaphorical extension is common and predictable cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would very likely infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

The phrase take a hit comes from the idea of being hit, like in a fight. When something is hit it is hurt or weakened, so when a person or business takes a hit they 'lose' money, reputation, or strength. That's why it means 'to experience a loss, damage, or setback'.