How did “take” and “have” become interchangeable? How does this make sense?

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EG I’m going to take a smoke break
VS. I’m going go have a smoke break

EG. I’m going to take a piss
VS. I’m going to have a piss

How did “have” and “take” become actionable verbs in this context? They don’t even make sense. Shouldn’t it really be:

I’m going for a smoke break
I’m going for a piss

Not that I will be adjusting my speech or anything. Just a strange thought.

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5 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

In order to have something you must usually take it first. Perhaps your supervisor doesn’t want you to have a break, but you put an effort to take it anyway. I think in the expressions to take a p__s or s__t you are primarily taking the “time” for those activities, similar to a break. In the case of taking a shower there could be another meaning: you accept the water falling onto you, taking it like a man, instead of avoiding it.

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