Q: On CNN, all the anchors use the expression “take a listen” instead of just “listen” or “listen to this.” Does that sound as caustic to you as it does to me?
A: We don’t know about caustic, but it certainly sounds condescending and lame. It’s no doubt the speaker’s way of avoiding “Listen to this.” Let us quote from the entry for this “infantile phrase” in The Dimwit’s Dictionary [2d ed.], by Robert Hartwell Fiske:
“As inane as it is insulting, have [take] a listen obviously says nothing that listen alone does not. Journalists and media personalities who use this offensive phrase ought to be silenced; businesspeople, dismissed; public officials, pilloried.”
Well, we don’t think it’s as bad as all that, but the phrase is certainly overworked. We just googled “take a listen” and got several million hits [and a great many of them are complaints about the usage].
The expression hasn’t made it yet into modern dictionaries, but The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language [5th ed.] and Cambridge Dictionaries Online include examples of somewhat similar usages.
Here’s the American Heritage example: “Would you like to give the CD a listen before buying it?”
And this is the example from Cambridge Dictionaries: “Have a listen to this!”
The word “listen,” by the way, has been used as a noun for about 250 years in expressions like “to be on the listen” or “to have a proper listen.”
In fact, the earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary for “listen” as a noun dates from the 1300s. In an apparent reference to becoming deaf or hard of hearing, the writer wonders if someone “has losed the lysten.”
The OED’s modern examples of the noun usage, in which the word means an act of listening, begin with this citation from the December 1788 issue of The American Museum, a literary journal published in Philadelphia:
“Every time the door opens, or a foot is on the stairs, you are on the listen.” [The article, “To the Bachelor,” is signed by “Aspasia,” possibly the pen name of Elizabeth Graeme Ferguson, a Philadelphia writer and intellectual.]
Later OED examples include these: “She was often on the watch, and always on the listen” [1884]; “constantly on the listen” [1935]; “take a listen” and “have a proper listen” [both 1968]; “I had a long listen” [1970]; and “Give it a listen” [1971].
[Note: This post was updated on June 18, 2020.]
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329202 He listened to my pitch, so he must be interested. fcbond 41307 I have no time to listen to such everyday affairs. CM 272065 I would tell you if you would just listen quietly. CM 926862 Listen to your heart, and you will know it's true. bojnin 884402 Mother always cries when she listens to sad songs. alexmarcelo 262503 The music we listened to last night was wonderful. Swift 3006679 Tom wasn't aware that nobody was listening to him. CK 2476757 I kept trying to tell him, but Tom wouldn't listen. arnxy20 2733271 I may not agree with what you say, but I'll listen. CK 393824 I often listen to soothing music in order to relax. blay_paul 301861 In spite of his anger, he listened to me patiently. CM 46484 The girl, closing her eyes, listened to the pastor. CM 272985 The teacher listened attentively to my explanation. CK 50664 Then the pen fell from my hand and I just listened. CK 15937 You never listen. I might as well talk to the wall. Swift 324492 Yumi got up early to listen to the English program. CK 283722 I hope he will see me and listen to my future plans. CM 314611 She would rather listen to others than talk herself. CK 839242 The girl closed her eyes and listened to the pastor. Scott 325831 A good management would listen to reasonable demands. CM 256527 I often spend my leisure time listening to the radio. CK 2799427 I was listening to a really beautiful song yesterday. Cainntear 1891098 I'm only going to say this once, so listen carefully. CK 881448 It's useless to talk to her. She won't listen to you. alexmarcelo 26321 We listened to the teacher during the English lesson. NekoKanjya 730627 I like listening to music when I'm not doing anything. cruzedu 2537346 I tried to talk Tom out of it, but he wouldn't listen. CK 255869 I used to sit up late at night listening to the radio. CM 29662 In order to relax, I need to listen to soothing music. CM 2537331 Tom listened for a moment, but couldn't hear anything. CK 246434 You never listen, no matter how many times I tell you. CM 294204 He settled down in his armchair to listen to the music. CK 264401 I listened but couldn't make out what they were saying. CK 1560628 I need some Japanese listening comprehension materials. sirpoot 260388 I've tried reasoning with him but he just won't listen. CK 562076 If you listen closely enough you'll be able to hear it. darinmex 3122072 Haven't you been listening to anything I've been saying? CK 1343905 He often accuses her of never listening to what he says. Chrikaru 255897 I often enjoy listening to classical music after supper. CK 256801 I suggested that we should listen to music for a change. CK 3144545 I'm willing to listen to any suggestions you might have. CK 2537260 Tom knew Mary wouldn't listen to anything he had to say. CK 277638 Unless you listen carefully, you'll be in trouble later. CK 328803 He is not the sort of person who likes to listen to jazz. fcbond 2315292 I don't have time to say this twice, so listen carefully. CK 248421 We listened carefully in order not to miss a single word. CK 3244788 What's important now is that you listen to what Tom says. CK 681267 When the judge speaks, everyone in the courtroom listens. Source_VOA 2955095 You've got to listen a little more carefully from now on. CK 1092960 Tom seems to be unwilling to listen to anything Mary says. CK
Meaning What's the meaning of "let's give it a listen?" "His saxophone playing kind of gets on my nervous on that one"
vb , gives, giving, gave , given mainly tr
1 also intr to present or deliver voluntarily [something that is one's own] to the permanent possession of another or others
2 often foll by: for to transfer [something that is one's own, esp. money] to the possession of another as part of an exchange
to give fifty pounds for a painting
3 to place in the temporary possession of another
I gave him my watch while I went swimming
4 when intr, foll by: of to grant, provide, or bestow
give me some advice
5 to administer
to give a reprimand
6 to award or attribute
to give blame, praise, etc.
7 to be a source of
he gives no trouble
8 to impart or communicate
to give news, give a person a cold
9 to utter or emit
to give a shout
10 to perform, make, or do
the car gave a jolt and stopped
11 to sacrifice or devote
he gave his life for his country
12 to surrender
to give place to others
13 to concede or yield
I will give you this game
14 intr
Informal to happen
what gives?
15 often foll by: to to cause; lead
she gave me to believe that she would come
16 foll by: for to value [something] at
I don't give anything for his promises
17 to perform or present as an entertainment
to give a play
18 to propose as a toast
I give you the Queen
19 intr to yield or break under force or pressure
this surface will give if you sit on it, his courage will never give
20 ♦ give as good as one gets to respond to verbal or bodily blows to at least an equal extent as those received
21 ♦ give battle to commence fighting
22 ♦ give birth often foll by: to
b to produce, originate, or create [an idea, plan, etc.]
23 ♦ give [a person] five or some skin
Slang to greet or congratulate [someone] by slapping raised hands
24 ♦ give ground to draw back or retreat
25 ♦ give [someone] one [Brit]
taboo slang to have sex with someone
26 ♦ give rise to to be the cause of
27 ♦ give me
Informal I prefer
give me hot weather any day!
28 ♦ give or take plus or minus
three thousand people came, give or take a few hundred
29 ♦ give way See → way → 24
30 ♦ give [a person] what for
Informal to punish or reprimand [a person] severely
n
31 a tendency to yield under pressure; resilience
there's bound to be some give in a long plank, there is no give in his moral views [See also] → give away → give in → give off → give onto → give out → give over → give up
[Old English giefan; related to Old Norse gefa, Gothic giban, Old High German geban, Swedish giva]
♦ givable, giveable adj
♦ giver n
1 mutual concessions, shared benefits, and cooperation
2 a smoothly flowing exchange of ideas and talk
vb
♦ give and take intr
3 to make mutual concessions
1 to donate or bestow as a gift, prize, etc.
3 to reveal or betray [esp. in the phrases give the game or show away]
4 to fail to use [an opportunity] through folly or neglect
5 to present [a bride] formally to her husband in a marriage ceremony
6 [Austral. and N.Z.]
informal to give up or abandon [something]
n
♦ giveaway
7 a betrayal or disclosure of information, esp. when unintentional
8 [Chiefly U.S. and Canadian] something given, esp. with articles on sale, at little or no charge to increase sales, attract publicity, etc.
9 [Journalism] another name for → freesheet
10 [Chiefly U.S. and Canadian] a radio or television programme characterized by the award of money and prizes
a very cheap [esp. in the phrase giveaway prices]
b free of charge
a giveaway property magazine
1 intr to yield; admit defeat
2 tr to submit or deliver [a document]
give off
vb tr, adv to emit or discharge
the mothballs gave off an acrid odour
give onto
vb intr; prep to afford a view or prospect of
their new house gives onto the sea
1 tr to emit or discharge
2 tr to publish or make known
the chairman gave out that he would resign
3 tr to hand out or distribute
they gave out free chewing gum on the street
4 intr to become exhausted; fail
the supply of candles gave out
5 intr; foll by: to [Irish]
informal to reprimand [someone] at length
6 tr [Cricket] [of an umpire] to declare [a batsman] dismissed
1 tr to transfer, esp. to the care or custody of another
2 tr to assign or resign to a specific purpose or function
the day was given over to pleasure
3 Informal to cease [an activity]
give over fighting, will you!
2 tr to renounce [an activity, belief, etc.]
I have given up smoking
3 tr to relinquish or resign from
he gave up the presidency
4 tr; usually reflexive to surrender
the escaped convict gave himself up
5 tr to reveal or disclose [information]
6 intr to admit one's defeat or inability to do something
7 tr; often passive or reflexive to devote completely [to]
she gave herself up to caring for the sick
- give it a shot exp. make an attempt, endeavor, make an effort
- call it a day v. declare that you're done with work or other activity, and that you want to go out or rest or go to bed
- give a ring exp. give a phone call
E.g.: Just give me a ring when you want to go out.
- give the go-by exp. do not take into account, disregard, ignore on purpose, avoid, dismiss
E.g: His boss asked him for a report, but he gave it the go-by.
- give the chills exp. have a powerful impact on someone; impress; generate an emotion [positive, but also negative]
it can be used to describe a feeling of fear or a positive emotion; e.g.: "This violin music gives me the chills" or "Being all alone in that old house after dark...it gave me the chills."
- give somebody the boot v. stop employing someone ; end a romantic relationship with someone
- comment n. something that you say which expresses your opinion on something or which gives an explanation of it
- it is what it is exp. means "that's just the way it is"
c'est comme ça, point barre
- it has a ring to it exp. it sounds interesting or attractive
- it hit me exp. it occurred to me, I suddenly thought of it, I had an idea all of a sudden
E.g: I wondered all day long how to solve this problem and it suddenly hit me...I had to talk to Marry.
- idgaf abbr. acron. I don't give a fuck
- green IT n. new trend in computing to take into account the environmental aspect when designing IT systems.
- up for it exp. "to be up for it" means to be willing to participate
she's really up for it: elle est partante
- it's got bits in it n. means a liquid is not clear: this tea's got bits in it, I don't like yogurt with bits in it
assez proche de l'idée de 'il y a à boire et à manger'
- don't give up the day job id. a humorous way of recommending someone not to pursue something at which they are unlikely to be good or successful and thus, to rather stick to what they can do best, namely, their job
Ex.: Although she had poured her whole heart and soul into her singing at the karaoke, her somewhat cruel but nonetheless lucid friends told her: 'don't give up the day job!'
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