take stock

Idioms and Phrases

Make an estimate or appraisal, as in We have to take stock of our finances before we can undertake a new project , or The career counselor advised Mark to take stock before changing his plans . This expression transfers making an inventory of goods ( stock ) to other kinds of appraisal. [Early 1800s]

Related Words

• analyze
• confirm
• correct
• find out
• go through
• investigate
• look at
• monitor
• probe
• review
• scrutinize
• study
• test
• try
• verify