bothered to take

USAGE SUMMARY

'bothered to take' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the feeling of having made an effort or to indicate that you have taken the time to do something. Example: He felt that his efforts went unappreciated, so he stopped bothering to take the extra step necessary to make his project a success.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He hasn't bothered to take off his winter coat.

The New Yorker

"We never even bothered to take it to court.

The New York Times

He can't even be bothered to take a shower.

The Guardian

I cannot be bothered to take even the most basic advice etc.

Independent

I can't be bothered to take even the most basic step to protect my personal information.

Independent

'I'm not sure I can be bothered to take a shower.

The Guardian - Film

I was so tired that I couldn't be bothered to take a photograph.

The Guardian

"House Republicans couldn't even be bothered to take a vote," Murray says.

The Guardian

It was the makeup: he hadn't bothered to take it off.

The New York Times

Who has bothered to take stock of the especially gladsome and buoyant?

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

She did not even bother to take a test.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bothered to take" to express a lack of effort or willingness to perform an action. It often implies a negative connotation, suggesting the action was deemed unimportant or not worth the trouble.

Common error

Avoid using "bothered to take" in highly formal or professional contexts where a more neutral or polite phrasing is necessary. Consider using "made the effort to take" or "took the time to" for a more appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bothered to take" functions as a verb phrase expressing a lack of inclination or effort to perform an action. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, from not bothering to remove a coat to not taking something seriously.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Reference

10%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bothered to take" is a common expression used to indicate a lack of effort or willingness to do something, as highlighted by Ludwig's examples. It carries a neutral tone and is frequently found in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives in professional settings. The Ludwig AI confirms that this is perfectly valid in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

couldn't be bothered to do

Emphasizes a lack of willingness or motivation to perform an action.

didn't feel like taking

Indicates a lack of desire or inclination to engage in a particular activity.

didn't care to take

Suggests a lack of interest or concern regarding the action.

didn't make the effort to take

Highlights the absence of exertion required to perform the task.

didn't trouble oneself to take

Implies that the person didn't want to inconvenience themselves to perform an action.

wasn't inclined to take

Indicates a lack of natural tendency or preference towards the action.

declined to take

Formally refuses to take an action, implying a conscious decision.

refused to take

Implies a stronger opposition or unwillingness to perform the action.

didn't deign to take

Suggests that the person considered themselves too important or superior to perform the action.

passed up the opportunity to take

Highlights the act of forgoing a chance to take an action.

FAQs

What does "bothered to take" mean?

The phrase "bothered to take" suggests a lack of effort or willingness to do something. It often implies that the action was not deemed important or worthwhile.

How can I use "bothered to take" in a sentence?

You can use "bothered to take" to indicate someone didn't make an effort: "He hadn't "bothered to take" off his winter coat."

What can I say instead of "bothered to take"?

You can use alternatives like "couldn't be bothered to do", "didn't feel like taking", or "didn't care to take" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "bothered to take" or "bothered taking"?

"Bothered to take" is generally used when referring to a specific action, while "bothered taking" is less common. "Bothered to take" is often preferred in formal writing.