take a liking to

present singular third person takes a liking to · participle present taking a liking to · past took a liking to · participle past taken a liking to

1. idiomaticTo develop a fondness for; to become infatuated with.

   I don't know whether it does you credit or the reverse that I should have taken a liking to you.

   1894, Justin McCarthy, Red diamonds, page 94

   2 more examples

   He met casually with this Polly once in company, and taking a liking to her, makes it worth her while to keep entirely to him.

   1748, John Cleland, Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, page 33

   He had taken a liking to Osgood Perkins and was fascinated by Perkins's understated but effective style of acting.

   2006, Marc Eliot, Jimmy Stewart: A Biography

   Synonyms: take a shine to