The word that we normally associate with ‘meeting’ is ‘convene’. People generally talk about ‘convening a meeting’ at a particular time. It is also possible to say, ‘have/hold/arrange/organize/ a meeting’. The expression take a meeting, which came into existence quite recently, was coined by the Americans, and was initially used in informal contexts to refer to a business meeting. With the passage of time, it has acquired a much broader meaning; it is used to refer to any kind of meeting – not just business. When you take a meeting, you participate in it. Like the expression take a listen, some people find take a meeting jarring.
The CEO took a meeting with the senior people in the marketing department.
I won’t be able to take the meeting tomorrow, I’m afraid. I’m travelling.
Published in the Hindu on 6 August 2023.
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Know Your English 