take a disaster

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take a disaster" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may confuse readers, as "take" is not typically associated with "disaster" in this context. Example: "We need to take a disaster seriously and prepare for the worst."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It's extraordinary how many experts believe it will take a disaster of unprecedented proportions to wake business leaders up to the need to take radical action on sustainability.

The Guardian

When Fox News asked him about the possibility that Mitt Romney might take a disaster tour of New Jersey, Mr. Christie replied: I have no idea, nor am I the least bit concerned or interested.

The New York Times

I hope it doesn't take a disaster for people to take notice.' Today Barnett-Higgins suffers from chronic fatigue, acute headaches, memory loss and severe pains in his joints.

The Guardian - Business

That it didn't take a disaster to trigger the reconstruction is a credit to the team of engineers and managers in charge of the water supply, along with elected officials willing to sell the need for the proactive investment to the 8 million users of the system, as well as the community campaigners who pressed for action.

The New York Times

"It may take a disaster to make people enforce these measures, and that's sad".

Science Magazine

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes says it will take a "disaster" for Celtic not to win the Premiership after his side closed the gap to five points.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

And in 2010, after a massive earthquake devastated Haiti, Walker used money out of his own pocket to take a disaster-relief team to help.

Huffington Post

It took a disaster to revive it.

The Guardian - Money

"It took a disaster to get us this far," he said.

The Guardian

If history is a guide, it often takes a disaster to get real change in the law.

The New York Times - Health

It has taken a disaster like that for people to realise that these extremes are not natural.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "take a disaster" in formal writing. Opt for more precise verbs like "experience", "face", or "endure" to convey the intended meaning.

Common error

The verb "take" doesn't naturally collocate with "disaster". Using it can create ambiguity or sound unnatural. Instead of saying "take a disaster", choose verbs that reflect the experience or management of the event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a disaster" functions as a verb phrase where "take" is used with "disaster" as its object. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, this is not a typical or grammatically sound construction. Examples in Ludwig show variations, but often suggest the need for a more precise verb.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take a disaster" is an infrequent and grammatically questionable expression. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is not correct in written English and provides suggested alternatives. Although examples can be found, authoritative sources generally avoid this construction, preferring more precise verbs like "experience", "face", or "endure". Its intended meaning often revolves around experiencing or being affected by a calamitous event, but clearer alternatives exist to express this meaning more effectively. The usage appears mostly in news media and less formal communication, but even then, it should be approached with caution. To ensure clarity and grammatical correctness, it's advisable to opt for the suggested alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experience a disaster

Replaces "take" with "experience", focusing on undergoing the disaster.

face a disaster

Substitutes "take" with "face", emphasizing confrontation with the disaster.

endure a disaster

Changes "take" to "endure", highlighting the suffering caused by the disaster.

suffer a disaster

Replaces "take" with "suffer", focusing on the negative impacts of the disaster.

confront a disaster

Similar to "face a disaster", stressing a direct encounter with the disaster.

deal with a disaster

Focuses on managing or handling the aftermath of a disaster.

manage a disaster

Highlights the act of controlling or minimizing the effects of a disaster.

mitigate a disaster

Emphasizes reducing the severity or impact of a disaster.

respond to a disaster

Focuses on the actions taken after a disaster occurs.

recover from a disaster

Highlights the process of rebuilding and returning to normal after a disaster.

FAQs

What verbs can I use instead of "take" when talking about a disaster?

Consider using verbs like "experience", "face", "endure", or "suffer" for greater clarity. For example, instead of "take a disaster", you can say "experience a disaster" or "face a disaster".

Is the phrase "take a disaster" grammatically correct?

While the phrase appears in some contexts, it's not considered standard English. It's better to use more direct and precise verbs like "suffer a disaster" or "endure a disaster".

What does it mean to "take a disaster"?

The meaning is not immediately clear. It's usually interpreted as experiencing or being affected by a disaster. Rephrasing with a more descriptive verb eliminates ambiguity.

Are there situations where "take a disaster" is appropriate?

In most formal contexts, it's best to avoid this phrase. More precise alternatives like "deal with a disaster" or "manage a disaster" are preferred for clearer communication.