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Glite Dictionary
to take someone's arm

to take someone's arm

5 3.2
Hold someone's arm to help or guide them while walking
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : tomar del brazo
  • As she stumbled, he quickly took her arm to steady her.
  • took her arm and led
  • took Sam's arm and guided
  • took Constance's arm and hurried

Examples

  • Mom paused in the middle of a step, took Dad's arm, and smiled sweetly at the real estate agent.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Behind Mr. Medina, Miguel Chico took his aunt's arm and guided her down the center.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • There you go, take my arm.

    The Bedroom Window (1987)

  • You take my arm and walk with me.

    West Is West (2010)

  • Well, take my arm at least.

    Daisy Miller (1974)

  • Here, take my arm, I'll show you.

    23 Paces to Baker Street (1956)

  • Take my arm and let me save you.

    The Hurricane (1937)

  • On the way to the door, a man at the bar takes Palmyra's arm.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Still smiling, he takes Sera's arm and leads her into the bedroom.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Hope seized up within her as she took Myrmeen's arm.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

to hold
vsto take someone's arm
∞ 1.0

To carry or support something with your hands

is used specifically to support or guide a person while walking or moving
to hold someone's hand
vsto take someone's arm
  • Informal
10 2.8

To comfort and guide someone who feels anxious or unsure

focuses on steady support while walking or moving rather than general comfort

Antonyms

to release
∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

to withdraw support
7 4.3

To stop giving help and approval to a person or group

How Supportive

to brace
150 4.4
to take someone's arm
5 3.2

Surface Forms

take someone's arm infinitive
taking someone's arm present participle
takes someone's arm third person singular
took someone's arm past
taken someone's arm past participle

Morphology

take + someone's + arm

The meaning 'to hold someone's arm to help, guide, or support them' is directly derivable from combining 'take' (to escort or hold) with 'someone's arm' (the person's limb). This is a literal, compositional construction found across languages (e.g., Spanish 'tomar del brazo'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should understand it.

Etymology

Take someone's arm comes from a simple image: you take someone's arm with your hand to guide or steady them as you walk. That's why it now means 'to help, guide, or support' someone while moving.