tomar cuerpo

1.
General Spanishneutral
- Literal: to acquire physical form or substance; to become corporeal or more materially manifest.
2.
General Spanishneutral
- Figurative: to take shape or become more concrete, substantial, or developed (of an idea, plan, relationship, or movement).

Examples:

ES: La vimos tomar cuerpo en la Primera Guerra Mundial en EE.UU. Entonces, el gobierno había sido elegido por su promesa de no entrar en la guerra.
EN: It strongly manifested itself during World War I in the U.S., when the government was elected on a promise of abstaining from war.
ES: Desde que la relación empezó a tomar cuerpo, no hemos estado solos ni un solo minuto.
EN: Ever since me and Mr. Sheffield started to heat things up we haven't had one minute alone together.
ES: Esa teoría del tiburón está empezando a tomar cuerpo.
EN: That shark theory's starting to catch on.
ES: Está empezando a tomar cuerpo.
EN: It's really starting to sink in.