take a slide

USAGE SUMMARY

"take a slide" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used in the context of giving a presentation, where it can mean either to transition between slides/topics, or to actually show a physical slide or prop. Example: After discussing the budget, let's take a slide and talk about our timeline for the project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

And the sitting governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has shown no sign of wanting to take a slide.

The New York Times

He wants you to take a slide instead of the stairs, to eat a mysterious pill, to drink psychedelic reindeer urine.

The Guardian - Arts

Still, why take a slide between floors or a Lego room when you can capture a gondola ride or climb a mountain?

Huffington Post

We just took the early 90s commerical for Slip n' Slide: "You run, you dive, hit the bump and take a slide" I wrote "Hit the butt".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

STUDIO B 259 Banker St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn (718-389-1880)—July 20: The New York City rockers Battles take a slide-rule approach to their music.

The New Yorker

We take a sliding window of 2kbp and count the discordant reads, whose mates align on a different chromosome.

BMC Medical Genomics

Take a sliding step towards them and to their side, at the same time grab the outstretched hand closest to you.

WikiHow

The Ukrainian currency took a slide, meanwhile, and the prime minister warned of worse.

The Guardian

But Mr. Gore and Mr. Bush are taking a slide on this one.

The New York Times

Inevitably, though, in Mansell's hands, this sound takes a slide into the abyss.

The Guardian - Film

I covered the first President Bush when he took a slide from Iraq war hero to one-term president.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the action of sliding down a physical slide, use "take a slide". This phrase is straightforward and easily understood in recreational contexts.

Common error

Don't use "take a slide" to describe situations that aren't related to physically using a slide. For example, instead of saying "The stock market took a slide", use "the stock market declined sharply" or other more accurate expressions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a slide" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It describes the action of using a slide, which is a piece of playground equipment. Ludwig shows examples of this usage in various contexts, from recreational activities to more figurative applications.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take a slide" is a verb phrase primarily used to describe the action of going down a physical slide. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness for that specific physical action, but it has noted its infrequent usage. The phrase appears mostly in News & Media, Wiki and Science contexts, maintaining an informal register. While straightforward, it's important to reserve "take a slide" for situations directly related to the use of a slide, avoiding its application in unrelated or metaphorical scenarios. As Ludwig AI provides, alternative phrases like ""go down a slide"" or "descend a slide" can provide nuances in meaning or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go down a slide

Focuses specifically on the physical action of descending a slide.

descend a slide

Emphasizes the downward movement on a slide, sounding more formal.

use a slide

Highlights the act of utilizing a slide, more general than the original phrase.

ride a slide

Suggests a recreational aspect, similar to riding other amusement devices.

take a turn on the slide

Indicates taking one's opportunity or time on a slide.

take a plummet

Implies a steep, rapid descent, more dramatic than a simple slide.

drop down a slide

Stresses the sudden nature of moving down the slide.

make a descent

Describes a general downward movement that could be on or off a slide.

experience a slide

Focuses on the sensation or event of sliding.

enjoy a slide

Highlights the pleasurable aspect of using a slide.

FAQs

How can I use "take a slide" in a sentence?

You can use "take a slide" to describe the action of going down a slide, as in "The children wanted to "go down a slide" after playing on the swings."

What's a more formal way to say "take a slide"?

While "take a slide" is fairly informal, a more descriptive alternative would be "descend a slide", which emphasizes the act of moving downward on the equipment.

Is "take a slide" only used for physical slides?

Yes, "take a slide" typically refers to the action of physically using a slide. For metaphorical slides, such as a decline in performance, other phrases like "take a nosedive" are more appropriate.

What can I say instead of "take a slide" when referring to a presentation?

If you are talking about the slides in a presentation, a better phrase might be "show a slide", "present a slide" or simply, "look at the next slide".