take liability

USAGE SUMMARY

'take liability' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when talking about someone or something assuming or accepting responsibility for a certain action or issue. For example: "The company decided to take liability for the accident involving its truck."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Justice Carlos R. Moreno, in dissent, scoffed at that argument, saying it was hard to believe someone would take liability into account in deciding whether to get tested.

The New York Times - Health

To Pinsky and the city, these demands — and the twenty-million-dollar penalty if the City Council's approval was delayed — were "not uncommon," since developers often "take liability for public approvals".

The New Yorker

DETROIT, Sept. 28 — United Automobile Workers leaders at General Motors unanimously approved on Friday a new four-year pact that calls for G.M. to invest $29.9 billion in a health care trust that would take liability for some retiree benefits off the company's books.

The New York Times

Forbes: They said, "Take liability".

Forbes

Yet while the risk may be slim, any business owner still needs to take liability matters seriously.

Huffington Post

If you take liability out of the equation, personal auto insurance premiums for owners of self-driving cars would likely become much lower.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The banks, say Enron investors, worked with Enron by entering into partnerships and transactions that enabled the energy company to take liabilities off its books, recording revenue from the deals when it was actually incurring debt.

The New York Times

In this situation, informed consent of the offspring receiving the undesirable effects cannot be obtained, and there is uncertainty over who takes liability for genetic damage to be passed down several generations (Rodriguez, 2016).

Protein & Cell

High prices, and the fact that many venues require couples to take out liability insurance, feed demand for wedding insurance.

The Economist

"We are seeing more scrutiny being conducted, and we are seeing people take their liability much more seriously," said Mr. Clarkson of Moody's.

The New York Times

"If you get too heavily involved in these operations, then you take on liability, and nobody wants to do that," Mr. Goldwasser said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the implications of using "take liability" in legal contexts, as it may have specific legal ramifications.

Common error

Avoid using "take liability" without specifying the type or extent of liability. Broad statements can lead to unintended legal or financial consequences. Instead, be precise: "take liability for environmental damages" or "take liability for contractual breaches".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take liability" functions as a verb phrase where "take" acts as a transitive verb and "liability" as its direct object. It expresses the act of assuming or accepting responsibility, as supported by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take liability" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of accepting legal or financial responsibility. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While not overly common, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, indicating a formal to neutral register. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; specifying the nature and scope of the liability avoids potential misinterpretations. Alternatives such as "assume responsibility", "shoulder responsibility", and "accept accountability" can be used to convey similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assume responsibility

Indicates a broader acceptance of duty or obligation, differing slightly in scope from specifically legal or financial liabilities.

shoulder responsibility

Implies bearing the weight of responsibility, suggesting a more burdensome aspect compared to simply 'taking' liability.

accept accountability

Focuses on acknowledging responsibility for actions and their consequences, rather than just assuming a liability.

bear the burden

Highlights the hardship associated with the liability, emphasizing the negative impact.

face the consequences

Centers on dealing with the aftermath of actions, which may include liability, but isn't limited to it.

own the responsibility

Implies a strong sense of personal obligation and control over the liability, differing from a more passive acceptance.

be held responsible

Focuses on external attribution of responsibility, rather than the internal act of taking it on.

carry the can

An informal idiom suggesting bearing the blame or consequences, often unfairly.

answer for

Implies being called upon to explain or justify actions, which might lead to taking liability.

pick up the tab

Specifically refers to covering the financial cost associated with liability, a narrower scope than the original phrase.

FAQs

What does "take liability" mean?

To "take liability" means to accept legal or financial responsibility for something, such as damage, debt, or an obligation.

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

You can use "take liability" when someone assumes responsibility, as in, "The company decided to take liability for the accident."

What can I say instead of "take liability"?

You can use alternatives like "assume responsibility", "shoulder responsibility", or "accept accountability" depending on the context.

Is it better to "take on liability" or "take liability"?

Both "take on liability" and "take liability" are correct, but "take on liability" often implies accepting a greater or more burdensome responsibility.