take a cab

USAGE SUMMARY

"take a cab" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone should use a taxi as their mode of transportation. Example: "I'll be running late, so please take a cab to the restaurant instead of walking."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Should I take a cab?

The New York Times

They take a cab to her house.

The New Yorker

"I'll take a cab home," he said.

The New Yorker

He wants to take a cab.

The New York Times

We didn't take a cab.

The New York Times

Can you take a cab?

The New York Times - Arts

"Tell him to take a cab".

The New York Times

We take a cab to my apartment.

The Guardian - Books

It would never occur to me to take a cab.

The New Yorker

Take a cab up and bring a picnic.

The New York Times

There is an easy solution: take a cab.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider your audience and context to choose the most appropriate alternative. While "take a cab" is widely understood, options like "hail a cab" or "order a cab" provide more specific details about how the taxi is obtained.

Common error

Avoid repetitive use of "take a cab" in a single text. Vary your language by using alternatives like "get a taxi", "hail a cab", or "catch a cab" to enhance readability and style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a cab" functions as an instruction or suggestion to use a taxi for transportation. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage, demonstrated by numerous examples across diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take a cab" is a common and grammatically sound way to suggest using a taxi for transportation. As Ludwig AI's analysis confirms, it's widely used, especially in news and media contexts. While interchangeable with alternatives like "take a taxi", consider using more specific phrases like "hail a cab" or "order a cab" for clarity. To enhance your writing, avoid overuse and diversify your language with synonyms. Remember that "take a cab" is generally neutral in tone, making it suitable for various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take a taxi

A more formal and direct synonym.

get a taxi

Uses "get" instead of "take", slightly more informal.

catch a cab

Implies successfully finding and using a taxi.

grab a cab

Similar to "get a taxi", suggests quickly obtaining a taxi.

hail a cab

Implies flagging down a taxi on the street.

call a taxi

Involves requesting a taxi service, often by phone or app.

order a cab

Suggests arranging a taxi in advance.

ride in a cab

Focuses on the action of traveling inside a taxi.

go by taxi

Indicates using a taxi as the mode of transport.

use a taxi service

More explicitly refers to the taxi industry.

FAQs

What's the difference between "take a cab" and "take a taxi"?

The phrases "take a cab" and "take a taxi" are virtually interchangeable. "Cab" is simply a shorter, more informal term for "taxi".

When is it appropriate to use "hail a cab" instead of "take a cab"?

"Hail a cab" is appropriate when you want to specifically emphasize the act of flagging down a taxi on the street, whereas "take a cab" is a more general term.

What are some more formal alternatives to "take a cab"?

While "take a cab" is generally acceptable, you can use phrases like "utilize a taxi service" or "employ a taxi" for a more formal tone, although these are less common.

Is it correct to say "take a cab home"?

Yes, "take a cab home" is a perfectly correct and common way to say that someone is using a taxi to travel to their home.