take the plunge

idiomatic phrase

informal

: to do or undertake something especially after a period of hesitation or uncertainty

Up to now, I've avoided growing roses … . But last winter the ripe catalogue shots of roses took hold in my imagination, and I decided to take the plunge.

—Michael Pollan

As with any new OS upgrade, it is prudent to wait awhile before taking the plunge, to make sure others have had a chance to find all the bugs.

—Peter H. Lewis

If you've considered buying an e-reader but haven't yet taken the plunge, there's no longer a need to wait.

—Joshua J. Romero

Examples of take the plunge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, Auker is taking the plunge into the public sector. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 7 June 2024

As Venus and Pluto clash, unconscious fears hold you back from taking the plunge. —USA TODAY, 1 May 2024

Subsequent footage then saw Bush Hager take the plunge from 10,000 feet, landing at the National Museum of the United States Army in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. —Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 12 June 2024

Harvard took the plunge Tuesday, following in the footsteps of Stanford and Northwestern. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above