take the rap
To be blamed or punished for something, especially for the wrongful actions of another; to willingly allow oneself to be so blamed or punished.
rap
/ɹæp/
noun 14verb 8name 1
Collocations
3(verb.)
ADV
sharply
The teacher rapped sharply on her desk to get the class's attention.
gently
PREP
on, with
She rapped on the door with her knuckles until someone answered.
Definitions
noun
1
A sharp blow with something hard.
The teacher sat at one end of the bench, with a meek little fellow by his side. When the others were disorderly, this young martyr received a rap; intended, probably, as a sample of what the rest might expect, if they didn't amend.
He walked softly up the sanded path, tiptoed up the steps and across the piazza, and rapped at the front door, not too loudly, lest this too might attract the attention of the man across the street. There was no response to his rap. He put his ear to the door and heard voices within, and the muffled sound of footsteps. After a moment he rapped again, a little louder than before.
2
The blame for something.
You can't act irresponsibly and then expect me to take the rap.
3
A casual talk.
Clearspace is holding a bisexuality rap at the center, 485 Mass Ave. 7:30pm. Topic of discussion will be femininity and masculinity.
4
Rap music.
They like listening to rap.
5
A song, verse, or instance of singing in the style of rap music.
verb
1
To strike something sharply with one's knuckles; knock.
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, / As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
He walked softly up the sanded path, tiptoed up the steps and across the piazza, and rapped at the front door, not too loudly, lest this too might attract the attention of the man across the street. There was no response to his rap. He put his ear to the door and heard voices within, and the muffled sound of footsteps. After a moment he rapped again, a little louder than before.
2
To strike with a quick blow; to knock on.
With one great peal they rap the door.
Maud took an active part in the drive, and with her cries and flourishings of the broken oar was of considerable assistance. I noticed, though, that whenever one looked tired and lagged, she let it slip past. But I noticed, also, whenever one, with a show of fight, tried to break past, that her eyes glinted and showed bright, and she rapped it smartly with her club.
3
To free (a pattern) in a mould by light blows on the pattern, so as to facilitate its removal.
4
To utter quickly and sharply.
The sergeant rapped out a word of command to the troops.
5
To speak (lyrics) in the style of rap music.
He started to rap after listening to Tupac.
He rapped a song to his girlfriend.
noun
1
A lea or skein of yarn that forms the standard length taken from the reel, 80 yards of worsted or 120 yards of silk or cotton.
[…] and that every hank or skein that shall be used as a binder to tie up or bind together any pound or parcel of yarn shall contain the same number of threads in a rap or lea, and the same number of raps or leas as the other hanks or skeins in the said pound or parcel.
At each rap the reel was moved slightly to one side, so that the next rap was wound separately, and so on until seven raps had been made, then the seven raps were made up into one hank, […]
Thesaurus
Synonyms
noun — a reproach for some lapse or misdeed
noun — genre of African-American music of the 1980s and 1990s in wh
verb — strike sharply
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
bum rap
A false accusation, or an injustice, especially one that leads to imprisonment.
. . . going over the top of the wall of the Trenton prison, where I was sent on a bum rap.
rap and rend
To snatch (physically, or steal).
rap someone's knuckles
to tap one's knuckles on an object such as a desk or wall to attract attention or as a signal of commmunication.
Just rap your knuckles on the wall when you're ready to go.
Example Bank
601
The teacher sat at one end of the bench, with a meek little fellow by his side. When the others were disorderly, this young martyr received a rap; intended, probably, as a sample of what the rest migh
Wiktionary02
He walked softly up the sanded path, tiptoed up the steps and across the piazza, and rapped at the front door, not too loudly, lest this too might attract the attention of the man across the street. T
Wiktionary03
The author (obviously a naturalist of no mean order) received an official rap over the knuckles for trespassing, and for encouraging others to do so. Evidently the instigator of this reprimand had not
Wiktionary04
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, / As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
Wiktionary05
He walked softly up the sanded path, tiptoed up the steps and across the piazza, and rapped at the front door, not too loudly, lest this too might attract the attention of the man across the street. T
Wiktionary06
With one great peal they rap the door.
WiktionaryUsage Notes
i Register
In some senses, rap is marked as slang, informal, dated, historical, US. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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