to take a number
8
3.2
- phrasal verb
:
tomar un número
- You probably haven't been here before, but you have to wait in line and take a number.
- take a number and wait
- tell them to take a number
- Well, take a number
Examples
-
Well, you'll have to take a number on that one.
-
Take a number, young man.
-
come Monday you guys would have to take a number
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Now take a number and sit down.
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You have to take a number.
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Tell him to take a number and wait in line.
Fiction book (2001) -
Take a number, get in line.
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Fans can take a number and get in line for a player's signature based on the schedule of that player.
Blog text (21) -
Why don't you just take a number and have a seat?
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Please take a number and wait for your turn at the reception.
Synonyms
26
2.1
To wait in a line to get something
20
3.4
To form or join a line while waiting
3
3.1
To wait in a line to buy something or enter a place
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'take' (receive) + 'a number' (a numbered ticket/token) yields the instruction to receive a numbered ticket indicating your place in line. This is a literal, service-oriented construction that follows straightforward logic and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Take a number comes from shops and offices where people pick up a paper ticket with a printed number to show their place in line. When you take a number, you wait until it is called, so the phrase means 'to wait your turn'.