take their order

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take their order" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of restaurants or service settings when asking customers what they would like to eat or drink. Example: "The waiter approached the table to take their order after they had looked over the menu."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

"Knoxville?" The waiter hovers to take their order.

The New York Times

The waiter came over to take their order: iced tea for Suchen, a strangely named energy drink for Walter.

The New Yorker

Uniformed waiting staff holding iPads approach customers to take their order and payment at the same time.

The Guardian - Business

He tells customers it might be a twenty-minute wait before he can take their order, and one after another they leave.

The New Yorker

Then a man with a pad approached the car but refused to take their order, even though white customers were being served.

The New Yorker

Waiters in traditional Raj attire greet guests at Newcastle station, or any other station on the line to take their order.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

In a democracy, politicians take their orders from the voters.

The Guardian

If so, who did they ultimately take their orders from, Guerreros Unidos?

The New Yorker

After the two have scanned the menu, a server comes to take their orders.

The New Yorker

Venezuela's judiciary and prosecution service take their orders from the government.

The Economist

Henceforward Athens and Sparta would take their orders from foreign conquerors first Macedonia, then Rome.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take their order" in service contexts, ensure a friendly and attentive tone to create a positive customer experience.

Common error

Avoid using "take their order" when you mean to describe completing the order; "take their order" refers to receiving the order, while fulfilling refers to preparing and delivering it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take their order" functions as a verbal phrase, specifically indicating the action of a service provider receiving a customer's request, typically in a restaurant or similar setting, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

26%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

4%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take their order" is a commonly used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, denoting the act of receiving a customer's request, particularly in service industries. The phrase is grammatically correct and versatile, suitable for various contexts, though primarily found in news and media and wiki sources. When employing this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intended meaning of receiving an order rather than fulfilling it. Consider alternatives like "receive their request" or "record their preferences" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

receive their request

Focuses on the act of getting the request, not necessarily in a restaurant setting.

accept their selection

Emphasizes the acceptance of a choice that has already been made.

record their preferences

Highlights the documentation of what the customer wants.

process their request

Focuses on the action of managing and fulfilling the order.

note their choice

A more general way of saying someone is recording what was selected.

get their specifications

Implies more detailed requirements beyond a simple order.

write down their demands

Highlights an obligation to fulfil some kind of demands from some people.

jot down their requests

Implies informality in the task of recording the request.

take down what they want

An informal way of saying to note down what someone wants.

register their command

Highlights the action of registering their instructions or command, more direct.

FAQs

How do I use "take their order" in a sentence?

You can use "take their order" in sentences like, "The waiter approached the table to take their order", or "She was ready to take their order as soon as they had decided".

What can I say instead of "take their order"?

You can use alternatives like "receive their request", "accept their selection", or "record their preferences" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "took their order" instead of "take their order"?

Yes, "took their order" is the past tense of "take their order" and is perfectly correct when referring to a past event. For example, "The waitress took their order quickly and efficiently".

What's the difference between "take their order" and "fulfill their order"?

"Take their order" refers to the act of receiving and noting a customer's request, while "fulfill their order" means to complete the request, such as preparing and serving the food.