Cool MateHandle vs I'll take care of this
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Handle
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
I'll take care of this
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Handle
| Handle | I'll take care of this | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhændl/","/ˈhændlz/","/ˈhændld/","/ˈhændlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhændl/","/ˈhændlz/","/ˈhændld/","/ˈhændlɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //aɪl teɪk keər əv ðɪs//🇺🇸 //aɪl teɪk kɛr əv ðɪs// |
| Meaning | To touch or manage something with your hands. | I will handle or manage this. |
| Example | I can easily handle any situation that arises at work. | Don't worry about the report; I'll take care of this. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | competently, efficiently, properly, be able to, be unable to, can, with, carefully, with care, carelessly | take care of yourself, take care of business, take care of the problem |
| Antonyms | neglect, ignore | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'manage' in non-physical contexts., Using 'handle' with inanimate objects incorrectly (e.g., 'handle the book' instead of 'pick up the book')., Incorrectly saying 'handles' when referring to one action. | Using 'care' instead of 'take care' in this context., Saying 'I will take care for this' instead of 'of'. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Use 'handle with care' when discussing fragile items. Avoid using in situations where 'manage' is more appropriate, like handling a problem. | Use in situations where you are assuring someone that you will manage a task. It's friendly but can be formal too. |
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Frequently asked questions: Handle vs I'll take care of this
What's the difference between Handle and I'll take care of this?
Handle: To touch or manage something with your hands. I'll take care of this: I will handle or manage this.
Which is more common: Handle and I'll take care of this?
Handle is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Handle: I can easily handle any situation that arises at work. I'll take care of this: Don't worry about the report; I'll take care of this.
Can I use Handle and I'll take care of this interchangeably?
Not always. Handle and I'll take care of this are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.