take back

take someone back

to start a relationship again. Why on earth would you take him back when he's been such a rat? Mary took back her husband after he stopped drinking.

See also: back, take

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take back something

1. to get control over something you controlled earlier. Democrats hope to take back the House of Representatives in the next election. Once we give them up to the government, we will never be able to take those rights back.

2. to say that something you said was wrong. I take it back — this is a darn good car. She wanted to take back her words — it wasn't easy to learn Chinese.

See also: back, take