Meaning & use
taking things in stride
Last updated
UK/ˌteɪkɪŋ θɪŋz ɪn ˈstraɪd/
US/ˌteɪkɪŋ θɪŋz ɪn ˈstraɪd/
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Dealing with problems or surprises calmly, without letting them upset you.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase or after 'be'; the full idiom is 'take something in stride'.
Patterns
- be taking things in stride
- take something in stride
She lost her job but she's taking things in stride and already looking for new work.
He's taking things in stride after the accident and seems surprisingly cheerful.
Taking things in stride is a useful skill when you work in a busy office.
Common combinations
- take something in stride
- He took the bad news in stride and kept working.
- take things in stride
- You have to learn to take things in stride in this job.
- be taking things in stride
- She is taking things in stride despite all the pressure.
Synonyms and how they differ
- taking something in your stride
- The British version of the same idiom; it is more common in the UK than in the US.
- rolling with the punches
- Similar meaning but more informal and suggests dealing with a series of difficulties.
Opposites
getting upsetfalling apart
Word family
- stride noun
- A long step; the idiom comes from walking steadily without stopping.
Practice
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose one answer.
The fixed preposition is 'in': take something in stride. The other prepositions do not form the idiom.
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