take up
take up {v.}
1. To remove by taking in.
Use a blotter to take up the spilled ink.
When the vacuum cleaner bag is full, it will not take up dirt from the rug.
2. To fill or to occupy.
All his evenings were taken up with study.
The oceans take up the greater part of the earth's surface.
The mayor has taken up residence on State Street.
3. To gather together; collect.
We are taking up a collection to buy flowers for John because he is in the hospital.
4. To take away.
John had his driver's license taken up for speeding.
5a. To begin; start.
The teacher took up the lesson where she left off yesterday.
5b. To begin to do or learn; go into as a job or hobby.
He recently took up gardening.
He took up the carpenter's trade as a boy.
6. To pull and make tight or shorter; shorten.
The tailor took up the legs of the trousers.
Take up the slack on the rope!
Compare: TAKE IN (3).
7. To take or accept something that is offered.
The boss offered me a $5 raise and I took him up.
I took John up on his bet.
Compare: JUMP AT.
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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
