take action on

take action on (someone or something)

1. To take active steps toward accomplishing or completing something. We'll need to take action on this issue before the end of the week. The company has promised to take action on the committee's recommendations immediately.

2. To initiate the steps necessary to stop or punish someone. Many people are waiting for the political party to take action on the candidate for his offensive comments. He had been on the FBI's watch list for months, but they didn't take action on him until it was too late.

See also: action, on, take

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

take action on someone or something

to act on someone or something; to do what has to be done on someone or something. We still have to discuss what to do with Sam. I hope we can take action on him today. Do we still have time to take action on this proposal?

See also: action, on, take

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.