take a leave—(also: take a leave of absence) take a holiday:
- I took a leave without pay because I was, of course, being paid by the Colonial Office to go there.
take leave—
1. part (from a person) with some expression of farewell:
- Before he went abroad, he took leave of all his associates.
2. (formal) dare to do smth. without the permission or suggestion of another person:
- There is still one point more I must take leave to mention.
take one’s leave—
1. go away; depart:
- A terror seizing me lest this might be a preliminary to another fit of hysterics, I immediately took my leave.
2. = take leave 1:
- Gentle reader, having taken my leave of Mr. Slick, it is now fit I should take my leave of you.