We have picked up the verb ‘take‘ for our today’s discussion. Let us check out this verb in different phrases.

take after means to resemble one’s parents or grandparents or any other relative in looks or features or any quality
She takes after her father; she is short tempered just like him.
My grandfather had receding hair and I take after him; I already look like him at the age of just twenty five.

take for means to attribute wrong identity or qualities to a person
I took him for a snob but he is quite modest.
They always take me for my brother since we look quite alike.

take in means understand or absorb in mind
We couldn’t take in any part of the lecture. It was too difficult and long.

take in also means to deceive or befool someone
The lady tried to take us in by her fake stories but we were alert enough to understand her lies.

take in means to receive guests too
People these days take in a number of students as their paying guests.