take (someone or something) seriously

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.

See also: seriously, take

take somebody/something ˈseriously

consider or treat something as important or serious: We told him he was in danger but he didn’t take us seriously.

See also: seriously, somebody, something, take