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Glite Dictionary
to take a dip

to take a dip

7 2.8
To go into the water for a short time to swim or cool off
  • phrasal verb
  • Jargon
translation icon : darse un chapuzón
  • I was first hesitant to take a dip because of my rashes, but I remember the old wives' tales of seawater being always good for any skin affliction, so I swam to my heart's content.
  • take a dip in the pool
  • take a dip in the river
  • take a dip in the water

We're currently driving to find a hidden gem of Iceland and it's dark outside so we're going to go up and hopefully take a dip in the pool.

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Examples

  • They were just taking a dip in the sea

    Wrecking Ball (2020)

  • Swimmers can take a dip in Devil's Pool when water levels aren't too high; it's right on the edge of the waterfall.

    Blog text (31)

  • You boys want to take a dip?

    Open Water 2: Adrift (2006)

  • We're here to take a dip.

    Scoop (2006)

  • Well, it looks like you found a nice spot to take a dip.

    Don't Fuck in the Woods (2016)

  • You take a dip in the pool or something?

    The Lords of Flatbush (1974)

  • So why not just say let's take a dip in the ocean?

  • Let's take a dip, just the two of us.

    Camp Cool Kids (2017)

  • The water's cool, but not so cold you couldn't take a dip if you like.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • On a hot summer day, we decided to take a dip in the refreshing lake.

Synonyms

to dive
vsto take a dip
152 1.0

To jump into water headfirst or swim below the surface

is a brief surface entry, not a forceful headfirst or underwater action
to bathe
vsto take a dip
16 1.4

To swim for pleasure in the sea or pool

is a shorter entry made for only a brief time
to bathe in
vsto take a dip
12 2.1

To get into warm water to clean yourself or relax

is a quick entry rather than an act for washing or long rest
to paddle
vsto take a dip
7 2.5

To play or move in shallow water by splashing

is a quick full entry rather than shallow playful movement at the edge
to dook
vsto take a dip
  • UK
1 9.9

To dip briefly into water to cool off

is the neutral common expression rather than a regional form
to get in the sea
vsto take a dip
1 8.5

To go into the sea to swim or play

is a short entry into water not limited to that location

Antonyms

to keep out
31 1.0

To stay outside a place and not go in

How Long

to swim
616 1.0
to wade
22 2.2
to take a dip
  • Jargon
7 2.8

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

take + a + dip

The meaning 'to briefly enter water' is directly derivable from combining 'take' (to have/engage in) with 'dip' (a quick swim/immersion). The productive pattern 'take a + noun' meaning 'have/engage in a [noun]' is common in English and across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrase take a dip comes from the simple image of briefly putting part of your body into water, like dipping a toe or jumping in for a short swim. That's why it means 'to enter water briefly'.