Take the plunge means finally doing something important after hesitating for a long time: After a year of planning, Farah took the plunge and opened a repair shop. The image is jumping into cold water: it's scary, but you jump. It often comes with finally: I finally took the plunge.
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take the plunge and do something; finally take the plunge; took/taken the plunge
- After a year of planning, Farah took the plunge and opened a repair shop.
- I had wanted to learn pottery for ages, so I finally took the plunge.
- They are considering a move to the coast but have not taken the plunge yet.
What changed
First versionAfter months of hesitation, she took a plunge and applied for the course.
RevisionAfter months of hesitation, she took the plunge and applied for the course.
Take a chance, take a break: a often follows take, so a plunge seems normal. But the idiom is fixed: take the plunge. With a, it sounds like a literal dip in the water, and the idea of a decision is lost. Replace a with the.
Make a decision is simply deciding, without any long doubts. Take a chance is taking a risk, even without much thought. Take the plunge is deciding after hesitation: They haven't taken the plunge yet.
Your turn
Complete the fixed idiom about making a long-considered decision: We finally took ___ plunge.
Show the answer
the — The idiom always takes the: take the plunge. Take a plunge is a literal dip in the water.
Describe a step you or a friend put off for a long time: a move, a new job, a course. Use take the plunge and…
After comparing courses for months, I took the plunge and enrolled in an evening photography class.
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