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Glite Dictionary
to recharge one's batteries

to recharge one's batteries

1 3.6
Rest or take a break to get your energy back
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : recargar energías
  • Taking that little bit of time for yourself can really help to recharge your batteries and also help you discover who you are outside of your parental role.

Examples

  • After a long week at work, she decided to take a weekend trip to recharge her batteries.

  • He's so burned out that he took a week off to recharge his batteries.

    Blog text (34)

  • We think that we need to maintain control over what we do in order to recharge our batteries.

    Blog text (6)

  • You do need to recharge your batteries.

    Blog text (31)

  • You do deserve a break so you can recharge your batteries.

    Blog text (2)

  • Sometimes a couple of days away is all it takes to reconnect with your spouse and recharge your batteries.

    Blog text (34)

  • He takes a short walk every afternoon to recharge his batteries and clear his mind.

  • Taking time off from technology can help you recharge your batteries and improve your focus.

Synonyms

to rest
vsto recharge one's batteries
816 1.0

To stop activity to relax or sleep and get energy back

emphasises brief restorative breaks for renewed energy rather than long recovery
to refresh
vsto recharge one's batteries
50 2.8

Make someone or something feel full of energy and less tired

emphasizes taking a break to restore energy rather than simple freshness or cleanliness
to recuperate
vsto recharge one's batteries
30 6.3

To get better after being ill, injured, or very tired

focuses on short refreshing breaks rather than longer medical recovery
to take time out
vsto recharge one's batteries
24 3.2

Stop what you are doing to rest or do something different for a short time

is more about pausing to feel refreshed rather than merely stopping activity
to recharge
vsto recharge one's batteries
20 3.6

To rest and get energy back after being tired

focuses specifically on stopping activity to feel refreshed rather than general renewal
to reinvigorate
vsto recharge one's batteries
19 5.7

To give new energy and interest to a person or thing

refers more to personal recovery through rest rather than general strengthening
to take a breather
vsto recharge one's batteries
  • Informal
14 3.5

To stop and rest for a short time

aims at a general restorative pause rather than only a very brief breath pause
to regenerate
vsto recharge one's batteries
4 5.2

Give new strength and energy to someone

is narrower, focusing on short rest breaks to feel refreshed
to reenergize
vsto recharge one's batteries
  • US
3 4.1

To give new energy and enthusiasm to a person or thing

is about taking a personal break to recover energy rather than boosting externally
to recharge my batteries
vsto recharge one's batteries
  • Informal
3 4.1

To rest or do something fun to get energy again

is the same everyday idiom used to describe taking a refreshing break
to refresh my mind
vsto recharge one's batteries
1 3.4

To clear your head after feeling tired or distracted

is broader, covering physical rest as well as mental recovery

Antonyms

to overwork
15 4.1

To make someone work too much so they become very tired or ill

How Energized

to rejuvenate
24 5.5
to revitalize
  • US
45 4.8
to recharge one's batteries
  • Informal
1 3.6
to rest
816 1.0
to take a break
496 1.4

Surface Forms

recharge one's batteries infinitive
recharged one's batteries past
recharged one's batteries past participle
recharging one's batteries present participle
recharges one's batteries third person singular

Morphology

recharge + one + battery

The verb 'recharge' (to restore energy) plus 'one's batteries' (battery = energy source) makes the intended meaning largely inferable: restore one's energy by resting. However, it depends on a metaphorical mapping from a device to a person rather than a literal composition, so it is not fully compositional; cross-linguistic use of the same metaphor increases its recognizability for learners.

Etymology

The phrase recharge one's batteries comes from the picture of real batteries that you plug in to recharge so they get more power. So, saying you need to recharge your batteries means you need to rest and 'restore your energy'.