take a seat—sit down; seat oneself:
- I took a seat in the back row where I hoped my person and my note taking would go unnoticed.
take one’s seat—
1. sit down in one’s allocated or chosen seat:
- Archbishop Elder entered the sanctuary and took his seat at the altar.
2. (UK) assume one’s membership in the House of Commons:
- Sir George Lynn, who was lately elected member for Milcote, will have to go up to town and take his seat.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase take one’s seat on the bench—
1. (of a judge) take one’s seat on the raised platform in the courtroom:
- When Lord Eldon took his seat on the bench and saw the vacant place where for years Romilly had pleaded before him, his eyes filled with tears.
2. become a judge in a court of law:
- Bradley took his seat on the bench in October of that year, but was forced to retire a few weeks later by failing health.