take stock
Pause and assess
Take stock means to pause and assess a situation, typically before deciding what to do next.
The phrase comes from the literal counting of inventory—goods in stock—but now applies to any careful evaluation: After the divorce, she took some time to take stock of her life.
To take stock of something is to consider it thoughtfully: We need to take stock of what went wrong.
Determine value or quality
- appraiseDetermine value of
- reviewCritical written assessment
- analyzeStudy by breaking down
- examineStudy with attention
audit · measure · gauge · weigh · scrutinize · consider · judge · estimate
Bulk goods storage building
- goodsThings for sale
- suppliesResources for a task
- merchandiseCommercial products offered
- productsItems made for sale
assets · catalog · quantities · count · tally · ledger · manifest · reorder
Examining one's own mind
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-assessmentEvaluating your own performance
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
self-awareness · self-scrutiny · self-analysis · self-questioning · pause · stepping back · personal inventory · life review
Planned approach to goals
- prioritiesMost important things
- goalsIntended end results
- objectivesIntended targets or ends
- resourcesAvailable assets or supplies
roadmap · direction · next steps · regroup · recalibrate · pivot · course correction · milestones
evaluate
Determine value or quality
examine · audit · measure · gauge · weigh · scrutinize · consider · judge · estimate · inspect
warehouse
Bulk goods storage building
- goodsThings for sale
- suppliesResources for a task
- merchandiseCommercial products offered
products · assets · catalog · quantities · count · tally · ledger · manifest · reorder · storage
self-reflection
Examining one's own mind
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-assessmentEvaluating your own performance
contemplation · self-awareness · self-scrutiny · self-analysis · self-questioning · pause · stepping back · personal inventory · life review · reality check
strategy
Planned approach to goals
- prioritiesMost important things
- goalsIntended end results
- objectivesIntended targets or ends
resources · roadmap · direction · next steps · regroup · recalibrate · pivot · course correction · milestones · forecast
- problem-solvingproblem solving, puzzles, riddles, logic, solutions
- thinkingthinking, reasoning, thought, ponder, contemplate
- retreatback away, back off, withdrawal, retreating, back up
- overthinkingoverthink, ruminate, obsess, brood, dwell
take stockshoot from the hip
Act or speak impulsively
wing it · fly by the seat of one's pants · jump the gun · go off half-cocked · rush in
take stockbury one's head in the sand
Avoid acknowledging uncomfortable truths
turn a blind eye · disregard · go through the motions · overlook · tune out
take stocklook away
Redirect one's gaze
stick one's head in the sand · dissociate · tune out · disengage · check out
take, mistake, stock, taken, taking, stocks, overtake, takes, intake