take (someone or something) seriously
To treat, consider, or approach someone or something with the seriousness or importance that it or they deserve. I wish we had taken her seriously; at the time, her claims seemed too outlandish to be true. If you don't start taking this work seriously, we're going to have to dismiss you from the company.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.