Meaning & use
taking a constitutional
Last updated
Meaning
phraseidiomold-fashionedhumorous
going for a regular walk, especially for health or gentle exercise
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase: be taking a constitutional; also take a constitutional.
Patterns
- take a constitutional
- be taking a constitutional
- go for a constitutional
My grandfather takes a constitutional around the park every morning before breakfast.
After lunch we were taking a constitutional along the seafront when it started to rain.
She insists on taking a constitutional after dinner, whatever the weather.
Common combinations
- take a constitutional
- He likes to take a constitutional after his evening meal.
- morning constitutional
- Her morning constitutional takes her past the old church.
- go for a constitutional
- Shall we go for a constitutional before it gets dark?
Synonyms and how they differ
- stroll
- A stroll is a slow, relaxed walk and is the normal modern word; a constitutional suggests a regular walk taken for health.
- walk
- Walk is the everyday general word; constitutional is a fixed, rather old-fashioned phrase for a health walk.
- promenade
- Promenade is a formal or literary word for a leisurely public walk, while constitutional is more personal and routine.
Commonly confused: taking a constitutional or constitutional?
taking a constitutional vs constitutional
As an adjective, constitutional means relating to a country's constitution or to a person's health; in this phrase it is a noun meaning a walk.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase uses the verb take: take a constitutional. Make, do, and give do not combine with this idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “taking a constitutional”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.