to do what it takes
18
4.8
- 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.
- And we we did what it took to start over now.
- He is willing to do what it takes.
- Because I won't do what it takes to skip the line or I won't do what it takes to go faster.
- But once we're committed, I think people like us, we'll, we'll do what it takes.
- Mossad has no qualms doing what it takes to ensure the survival of every Israeli citizen around the world.
- And so I will do what it takes if I can to get this out, be successful movie, HBO, whatever.
- But I think Bobby was willing to do what it took to confront, for instance, Jimmy Hoffa, the mafia.
- Well, guess what chances of you doing what it takes, that probability goes up.
Examples
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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.
-
I knew I was gonna do what it took to help her.
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Then you must do what it takes.
-
You do what it takes to win.
-
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!
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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.
Synonyms
101
5.2
Willing to do anything needed to reach a goal, however hard
26
4.1
Try very hard to make something happen
17
5.2
Do everything possible to make something succeed
14
2.1
To make as much effort as you can to reach a goal
7
4.2
Do everything you can to achieve something important
5
7.0
To do whatever is needed to reach a goal, even if the actions are difficult or harmful
1
5.9
To try very hard and do anything to achieve something
Antonyms
How Determined
- Informal
7
4.2
18
4.8
26
4.1
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
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.