Example: Wir sollten das Problem endlich etwas ernster nehmen.
Definition
"Etwas ernst nehmen" means to treat something with seriousness and give it the attention or importance it deserves. It implies not dismissing or ignoring an issue but acknowledging its significance and acting accordingly.
Translations
take something seriously
tomarse algo en serio
iets serieus nemen
prendre's una cosa seriosament
prendre quelque chose au sérieux
Etymology
The phrase "etwas ernst nehmen" comes from German, where "etwas" means 'something,' "ernst" means 'serious,' and "nehmen" means 'to take.' Together, it literally translates to 'take something seriously,' reflecting the act of giving serious consideration to a matter.
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"Etwas ernst nehmen" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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take something seriously