take (one's) life
To kill one or oneself. In the latter case, "own" often precedes "life." Do you feel any remorse for taking their lives all those years ago? I was so saddened to hear that Daniel's father took his own life yesterday.
take someone's life
to kill someone. (Can include onself.) It's the executioner's job to take people's lives.
take someone's life
1. Kill someone, as in They argued about invoking the death penalty for taking someone's life. [c. 1300]
2. take one's own life. Commit suicide, as in Most churches have long opposed taking one's own life. [First half of 1900s]
3. take one's life in one's hands. Take a serious risk, as in Climbing without oxygen is really taking your life in your hands.
take somebody’s ˈlife
(formal) kill somebody: In my opinion, the state does not have the right to take a person’s life.take your own ˈlife
(formal) kill yourself; commit suicide: His children died in a house fire and shortly afterwards he took his own life. take (one's) life
To commit suicide.
take (someone's) life
To commit murder.