take a break
take uh BRAYK
/teɪk ə breɪk/
To stop doing something for a short period of time to rest.
Usually implies a temporary pause with the intention of returning to the task.
The story behind the word. From the Old English 'brecan', meaning to shatter. When you 'take a break', you are literally 'shattering' the continuous flow of work.
Word relationships
- pause: Pause is a very brief stop, often in speech or music.
- rest: Rest implies physical recovery, whereas a break might just be a change of activity.
- toil: Toil means to work extremely hard without stopping.
Commonly confused with
- have a break: 'Have a break' is more common in British English; 'take a break' is standard in American English.
Word family
- breaktime (noun): The scheduled time for a break.
Collocations
- well-deserved break
- short break
- coffee break
Idioms & expressions
- give me a break
Example sentences
- "You've been staring at that screen for four hours; you should take a break." A workplace instruction.
- "Let's take a break and grab some coffee before the next meeting." A casual suggestion.
Memory hook
Imagine physically 'breaking' a long stick of work into two pieces to create a gap. Break the flow, take a break.
When not to use
Not used for permanent cessation; you don't 'take a break' from a job if you are quitting.
Fun facts
- The 'KitKat' chocolate bar's famous slogan 'Have a break' helped cement this collocation in global English.
Related words
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