take a pew

present singular third person takes a pew · participle present taking a pew · past took a pew · participle past taken a pew · alternative pull up a pew

1. UKidiomaticTo take a seat; to sit down.

   "Come in. Come in. Take a pew. Cigarette?"

   1965, Ian Fleming, chapter 1, in The Man with the Golden Gun

   3 more examples

   There are many ways of inviting a person to seat himself. The genial ‘take a pew’ of one's equal inspires confidence. The raucous ‘sit down in front’ of the frenzied pit, when you stand up to get a better view of the stage, is not so pleasant.

   1903, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 16, in A Prefect's Uncle

   "Oh!" he said, looking round him with his chin a little in the air, "am I intruding, Turl?" . . . "Not at all, Berryman—take a pew!"

   1904, John Galsworthy, chapter 18, in The Island Pharisees

   "Come in," he said cheerily. "I'm delighted to see you. Take a pew."

   1919, William Somerset Maugham, chapter 11, in Moon and Sixpence