Meaning trap
take out
kill or destroy
To deliberately kill, destroy, or neutralise a person, group, or target, especially in a military, criminal, or strategic context.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To deliberately kill, destroy, or neutralise a person, group, or target, especially in a military, criminal, or strategic context.
'take out' also has the more basic meaning 'remove something from a place'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The special forces were ordered to take out the enemy communications centre before dawn.
Some argue that drone strikes are justified if they take out high-value terrorist targets, while others question the ethical implications of such actions.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: A drone took out it.
Say: A drone took it out.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'take it out'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Take out' is the blunt operational verb for destroying a target; 'neutralise' is military-formal but 'take out' is what's actually said.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
take out + target
- the target
- an enemy tank
- the power grid
- a sniper
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- take out (remove something from a place) — 'take out' also has the more basic meaning 'remove something from a place'; this is the advanced sense.