idiom · neutral
take someone under one's wing
UK/teɪk ˈsʌmwʌn ˈʌndə wɪŋ/US/teɪk ˈsʌmwʌn ˈʌndɚ wɪŋ/take·some·ONE·un·der·one's·WING
to mentor, protect, or guide someone less experienced.
Examples
“When I joined the firm, a senior partner took me under her wing and taught me the procedures.”
“Teachers often take promising students under their wing.”
“He took several apprentices under his wing and helped them build careers.”
Band 8 sentence
“When I started work, a senior engineer took me under her wing and showed me practical ways to improve my code.”
Collocations
- take a junior under one's wing
- take someone under your wing and teach them
Word family
Common mistakes
take someone under a wing→take someone under one's wing
take under wing someone→take someone under one's wing
Say it for a higher band
5mentor→6guide a junior→7+take someone under one's wing
Synonyms
mentor
look after
Easily confused
mentor
“A senior engineer took me under her wing during my probationary period.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Work
Learn it with its set