Take a liking to means to start liking someone or something. It's about the moment a person or activity begins to appeal to you, often quickly and for no particular reason: The kids took a liking to their new teacher.
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take a liking to + person/thing/-ing; take an instant liking to + person
- My grandmother took a liking to my new boyfriend when he offered to wash the dishes.
- I didn't enjoy running at first, but I've taken a liking to it.
- Our dog has taken a liking to the neighbour's garden.
What changed
First versionAfter a few lessons, she took a liking to cook Thai food.
RevisionAfter a few lessons, she took a liking to cooking Thai food.
The to in take a liking to is a preposition, as in look forward to, not the to before a verb, as in want to. After this to, a verb takes -ing: a liking to cooking. It's easy to treat it like want to, hence cook.
Have a liking for means to like something, to have a lasting fondness for it: He has a liking for spicy food. Take a liking to is the moment the fondness appears. Their prepositions are different too: for and to.
Your turn
At first Ben was afraid of the new puppy, but within a week he ___ it.
Show the answer
took a liking to — Within a week shows the moment Ben started to like the puppy, and take a liking needs the preposition to. For belongs in have a liking for and doesn't go with take.
Describe a person or activity you unexpectedly took a liking to. Say when it happened.
Last spring I took a liking to gardening when my neighbour gave me some tomato plants.
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