Yes, pretty much.They are close in meaning but I detect a difference nevertheless. "take up a challenge" suggests that the challenge has been posed by a person, especially verbally, whereas "take on a challenge" suggests that the challenge is more figurative in meaning, a difficult task one must accomplish. Let's see if people agree with me.
Yes, pretty much.
My impression is that you "take on" something burdensome and you "take up" an activity out of choice.
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I don't think it is a different meaning - that's my point. The word "challenge" effectively means something different in "to take up a challenge" and "to take on a challenge", the difference of nuance is whether you view the challenge in question - in extremely broad terms - as something desirable or burdensome.Yes, but that's a different meaning we're dealing with.
I think you could say "take on golf," but only in a context where it was clear that the subject was taking it on as a challenge, rather than "taking it up" as a hobby:What matters is that you can't "take on golf".
I think you could say "take on golf," but only in a context where it was clear that the subject was taking it on as a challenge, rather than "taking it up" as a hobby:
Having mastered tennis and squash to his satisfaction, Joe Athlete took on golf.
You would be saying very specifically that Joe saw these sports as challenges to be conquered, and golf was the latest in the series.