take cues from

USAGE SUMMARY

"take cues from" is a valid phrase in written English.
You can use it when talking about following or participating in something based on the behavior of another person or group. For example, "When I joined the debate team, I took cues from the more experienced members to figure out how to effectively argue my points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

People take cues from the environment.

The New Yorker

These memoirs take cues from prose poems and lyrical essays, like those in Claudia Rankine's "Citizen".

The New Yorker

They were able to take cues from the background and compensate for the very unnatural illumination.

The Guardian

Take cues from what powerful women are wearing, as in Michelle Obama or Sarah Palin.

The New York Times

From a very young age, children take cues from their parents.

University of California, Berkeley

However, growing evidence suggests that firms also take cues from their peers in selecting financial policies.

Columbia University

Even so, he said, professional buyers could take cues from the online shoppers.

The New York Times

Pentagon officials should take cues from the president by disgorging EADS's tanker bid of illegal subsidies.

The New York Times

After all, should we take cues from the star of "Mission: Impossible"?

The New York Times

The markets often take cues from Wall Street, but United States exchanges were closed for Labor Day.

The New York Times

A psychologist in Jenkintown, Pa., Dr. Gershenfeld said that she warns people: Your children will take cues from you.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take cues from" when you want to emphasize that someone is observing and adapting their behavior or strategy based on external influences or examples.

Common error

Avoid using "take cues from" when you mean to describe pure imitation without any adaptation. "Take cues from" implies observation and adjustment, not blind copying.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take cues from" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone is observing and adapting their behavior or strategies based on the actions, styles, or examples set by others. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe the process of learning and being guided by external influences. For instance, the examples from Ludwig show that children "take cues from" their parents.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

21%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take cues from" is a versatile and commonly used expression that signifies observing and adapting based on external examples. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. It's frequently found in news, academic, and general contexts, making it suitable for various communication settings. When using this phrase, ensure you are conveying the idea of active learning and adaptation, rather than mere imitation. The phrase is grammatically sound and semantically clear, contributing to its high expert rating and widespread acceptance. Remember, it implies a level of active participation, drawing lessons and adapting from what is observed, as shown in the examples found on Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be guided by

Emphasizes the guidance received from a source, implying a more passive role.

follow the lead of

Emphasizes the act of following a leader or example.

learn from

Highlights the learning aspect, implying a more active acquisition of knowledge.

take a page out of someone's book

Refers to adopting a specific strategy or method from someone else.

look to as a model

Suggests viewing someone or something as an example to be followed.

draw inspiration from

Focuses on inspiration rather than direct guidance, suggesting a more creative interpretation.

take as a pattern

Similar to 'model', but stresses the use of something as a reproducible template.

adopt the practices of

Highlights the adoption of specific practices or behaviors.

emulate

Suggests a more deliberate attempt to imitate or match someone's behavior or qualities.

mimic

Implies a close imitation, sometimes with a negative connotation of simply copying.

FAQs

What does "take cues from" mean?

"Take cues from" means to observe and learn from someone's behavior, style, or strategy in order to guide your own actions or decisions. It implies adapting your approach based on the example you're observing.

How can I use "take cues from" in a sentence?

You can say, "The new manager decided to "take cues from" the team's previous successes to improve performance" or "Designers often "take cues from" nature when creating new patterns".

What are some alternatives to "take cues from"?

Alternatives include "draw inspiration from", "learn from", or "follow the lead of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "give cues to" instead of "take cues from"?

No, "give cues to" has a different meaning. "Give cues to" means providing signals or instructions to someone, while "take cues from" means receiving and acting on those signals or observing and learning from actions.