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

But most jumpers take the plunge with a smile. —Cbscolorado.com Staff, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026

Initially unsure about whether to take the plunge, Gibson eventually decided to dedicate the rest of the year to earning Olympic qualification. —Ben Church, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026

Affleck credits Damon for encouraging him to take the plunge. —Christina Perrier, InStyle, 11 Feb. 2026

Most of the reporting, intel-gathering and rumors around the league have indicated that the Bucks are far more likely to take the plunge to trade Giannis in the offseason. —Zach Harper, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take the plunge

• expunge
• lunge
• sponge
• muskellunge