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Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

gain/take (control)

Hello,
I just came across this sentence: "The party is expecting to gain control of the council in the next election". I thought that "take" could be used instead of gain, but then I reached the conclusion that it didn't sound as good. An army could take control of a town/area/etc. What in your opinion are the nuances between "gain" and "take" when used in collocation with "control"?

Thank you
  

Top answer

Gene93 What in your opinion are the nuances between "gain" and "take" when used in collocation with "control"? "take control" has a much more aggressive feel than "gain control". "take control" has a sense of taking total control, seizing power never to let it go again, if possible.

— CalifJim

  • Gene93 What in your opinion are the nuances between "gain" and "take" when used in collocation with "control"?
  • "take control" has a much more aggressive feel than "gain control".
  • "take control" has a sense of taking total control, seizing power never to let it go again, if possible.
  • "gain control" has a sense of improving one's standing at least to having a majority in one's camp.
  • "take" seems more physical.
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2 Answers
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Gene93What in your opinion are the nuances between "gain" and "take" when used in collocation with "control"?
"take control" has a much more aggressive feel than "gain control".
"take control" has a sense of taking total control, seizing power never to let it go again, if possible.
"gain control" has a sense of improving one's standing at least to havi
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Thanks, Jim. I thought it would be something like that.
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