loathe to take

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "loathe to take" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a strong aversion or reluctance to accept or engage in something. Example: "I loathe to take on additional responsibilities when my current workload is already overwhelming."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

She stretched out both her hands to me then but I shrank back, unaccountably loathe to take them.

Independent

European governments have already been ahead of popular opinion when it has come to sending additional troops to Afghanistan, and they have been loathe to take on an additional load.

The New York Times

Given the state of the global economy, Farris says he is loathe to take on the risk of investing in a new country, rather is looking where Apache already has operations on six continents.

Forbes

I'm loathe to take aim at such an obvious target, but King of Twitter Justin Bieber has tweeted more than 22,400 tweets to his 40 million cultists.

Vice

But leaders are loathe to take on the financial burden of supporting the bedoun in their generous welfare states — particularly given that they have long viewed the bedoun in much the same way Donald Trump views Mexican immigrants.

Vice

Now that the West is hit with this crisis they are implementing the inverse policies - why? Han was loathe to take Fareed's bait and lambast the West for turning 180 degrees on their own advice.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Migrants in Calais are loathe to have their photo taken — partly because they are worried that it will be used in some way against them during their asylum applications, but also because they don't want their families back home to realize the conditions they're currently living in.

Vice

And Freud was very loathe to have him take movies of him.

The New York Times

I would be loathe to find out if anyone took the analysis in this essay to mean that employees aren't responsible for their own actions or that someone can justify misconduct by redirecting blame to someone else.

Huffington Post

Both army councils met; Essex's plan to force his way past the Royalists seemed feasible, and many Parliamentarians, loathe to give up the ground they had taken, fully expected the battle to continue.

Wikipedia

"I've been loathe to blame the injuries in recent weeks but it is taking its toll.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "loathe to take" to express a strong feeling of reluctance or aversion towards a particular action or decision. It is more emphatic than simply saying 'unwilling' or 'reluctant'.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "loathe to take" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like 'hate to take' or 'dislike taking' for a more natural tone in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "loathe to take" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing a strong aversion or reluctance towards performing a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, with examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "loathe to take" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a strong aversion or reluctance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples across various contexts, including news, science, and formal communications. While correct, it's important to consider the level of formality, as simpler alternatives may be more suitable in casual settings. The phrase is more common in news and media but less frequent in encyclopedias and wikis. Alternatives like "reluctant to take", "hesitant to take", and "unwilling to take" offer similar meanings with varying degrees of emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reluctant to take

Emphasizes a lack of willingness without necessarily implying strong aversion.

hesitant to take

Highlights pausing or delaying before acting due to uncertainty or reluctance.

unwilling to take

Directly expresses a lack of willingness or consent.

averse to taking

Indicates a disinclination or opposition to taking something.

disinclined to take

Suggests a mild reluctance or preference not to take something.

opposed to taking

Strongly expresses disagreement or resistance to taking something.

resistant to taking

Implies actively pushing back against the idea of taking something.

not keen on taking

Informal way of expressing a lack of enthusiasm for taking something.

have no desire to take

Expresses a complete lack of interest or wish to take something.

shrinking from taking

Suggests avoiding taking something due to fear or discomfort.

FAQs

What does "loathe to take" mean?

The phrase "loathe to take" expresses a strong feeling of reluctance, aversion, or dislike towards doing something. It implies a stronger negative feeling than simply being unwilling or hesitant.

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

You can use alternatives like "reluctant to take", "hesitant to take", or "unwilling to take", depending on the intensity of the feeling you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "loathe to take" or "loath to take"?

"Loathe to take" is the correct form. "Loath" is an adjective meaning reluctant or unwilling, while "loathe" is a verb meaning to feel intense dislike or disgust for. In this phrase, you need the verb form.

How formal is the expression "loathe to take"?

The expression "loathe to take" leans towards the formal side. In more casual contexts, using phrases like "hate to take" or "dislike taking" would be more suitable.