Take that, Thomas Edison.

[GoodTaste]

Does "Take that, Thomas Edison" mean "Take the challenge, Edison, (you have to prove that you are a slayer of giants as well)"?


==================
TO MANY, Nikola Tesla is a folk hero. He is a steady fixture in science fiction, and his role in the war over whether alternating or direct current should be used to transmit electricity in the late 19th century has cemented him in the popular imagination as a slayer of giants. Take that, Thomas Edison.

Source: New Scientist
Read more: https://www.newscientist.com/articl...e-biopic-of-a-scientific-great/#ixzz6W2fA8K4s

 

[emsr2d2]

No. "Take that" means something like "Take that information and just deal with it!" In this context, it's like saying to Thomas Edison "Hah! You thought you invented electricity! You're wrong!"

 

[Tdol]

It's a hit on Thomas Edison's reputation- Tesla is belatedly gaining credit for what he achieved.

 

[jutfrank]

Take that! is meant to express striking a metaphorical blow.

There really ought to be an exclamation mark, in my opinion.

 

[Rollercoaster1]

What was the need of capitalizing the 2nd letter and 2nd word of the first sentence?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

As Jutfrank says, it signifies a blow. People sometimes say, "Take that!" when they hit someone:

- Take that! [POW!] And that! [POW!] And that! [POW!]

So the speaker is saying that Tesla delivered a knock-out punch to Edison.

 

[SoothingDave]

What was the need of capitalizing the 2nd letter and 2nd word of the first sentence?

There is no need. It's a stylistic thing done when typesetting a magazine. The first phrase, or first few words of an article are capitalized. The thought being that they will catch the readers attention as they flip through the pages.