take your time

Meaning

This expression is used to tell someone that they do not need to hurry and can work at their own comfortable pace. It is a polite and reassuring phrase often used when someone feels pressured or rushed.

Examples

• Take your time looking at the menu; there is no rush to order.

  Take your time looking at the menu; there is no rush to order.

• You can return the book whenever you finish it, so please take your time.

  You can return the book whenever you finish it, so please take your time.

• Take your time getting ready; the party doesn't start for another hour.

  Take your time getting ready; the party doesn't start for another hour.

• I know this is a difficult decision, so take your time to think about it.

  I know this is a difficult decision, so take your time to think about it.

• She told him to take his time writing the report so he wouldn't make mistakes.

  She told him to take his time writing the report so he wouldn't make mistakes.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Don't rush, spend your time.

  ✓ Don't rush, take your time.

  Learners often use 'spend your time' to mean 'don't hurry'. However, 'spend time' just means to pass time doing an activity, whereas 'take your time' means to go slowly.

• ✗ You can take time to finish this tomorrow.

  ✓ You can take your time to finish this tomorrow.

  Without the possessive pronoun 'your' (or 'his', 'her', etc.), the phrase 'take time' sounds incomplete or means 'to require time' rather than 'not rushing'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• ___, we have plenty of hours before the flight.

  💡 don't rush

  Show answer

  Take your time

• I told her to ___ with the drawing so it would look perfect.

  💡 not to hurry

  Show answer

  take her time