The phrase "took out of mothballs" is spelled as /tʊk aʊt əv ˈmɒθbɔːlz/. In this phrase, the "o" in "moth" is pronounced as "ɒ" and the "a" in "balls" is pronounced as "ɔː". The /θ/ sound in "mothballs" is spelled with the letters "th" as there are two ways to pronounce the "th" sound in English, /θ/ and /ð/. "Took" is spelled with the "oo" letters but pronounced as /ʊ/. This phrase means to bring something out of storage after a long time of disuse.
"Took out of mothballs" is a phrase that refers to the action of bringing something back into use or activity after a period of inactivity or disuse. This idiomatic expression is derived from the practice of storing clothing or other items made of natural fibers in containers containing a repellent substance, such as mothballs, to prevent damage caused by moths and other pests.
In a broader sense, "took out of mothballs" can also be used metaphorically to describe the act of reviving or reactivating various things, such as ideas, projects, or institutions, that have been dormant or unused for a significant period. It conveys the idea of breathing new life into something that has been put aside or forgotten.
The term can apply to different contexts, such as the revitalization of an old business, the resurrection of an abandoned project, or the relaunch of a previously discredited idea. By invoking the imagery of mothballs, the phrase highlights that the item or concept in question has been protected and preserved during its period of inactivity, with the intention of being brought back into operation at a later stage.
Overall, "took out of mothballs" signifies the act of reintroducing and utilizing something that was temporarily put aside, suggesting a renewed and active role after a period of dormancy or neglect.