take stock

take stock (third-person singular simple present takes stock, present participle taking stock, simple past took stock, past participle taken stock)

1. (idiomatic) To scrutinize or size up something; to assess a situation.
   • 1882, Leslie Stephen, The Science of Ethics

     At the outset of any inquiry it is proper to take stock of the results obtained by previous explorers of the same field.

   • 2014 August 11, Dave Itzkoff, "Robin Williams, Oscar-Winning Comedian, Dies at 63 in Suspected Suicide," New York Times

     In 2009, he underwent heart surgery for an aortic valve replacement at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, an event that Mr. Williams said caused him to take stock of his life.

   • 2021 May 5, Drachinifel, Battle of Samar - What if TF34 was there?‎, archived from the original on 19 August 2022, retrieved 31 August 2022, 42:53 from the start:

     […] and the pillar of smoke which had recently begun to dissipate, as many of the fires amidships had been smothered by the onrushing water, was replaced by a vast mushroom cloud of steam, smoke, flame, and debris as the magazines detonated. In the pall of this apocalyptic destruction, the U.S. fleet takes stock.

• take inventory

• stocktaking

• stock-take, stocktake