I could have taken him

Question

I could have taken him for your brother.This sentence seems rather odd to me, but this is from the dictionary.Could you tell me what the sentence means?

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Oh - go look at your other post on this phrase.

I could have thought he was...

(Note: "I could have taken him" without any other object is slang for "I could have beat him in a fight/competition.")

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I could have taken him for your brother.

This sentence seems rather odd to me, but this is from the dictionary.

Could you tell me what the sentence means?

I took Tom for Fred means that I mistakenly thought that Tom was Fred. It often also means that Tom and Fred physically resemble each other.

So, your sentnce basically means that it was possible for the speaker to mistakenly think that the person was your brother.

Best wishes, Clive

I could have taken him

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