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Glite Dictionary
to take a load off

to take a load off

13 5.5
To sit down and rest after standing or working
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : descansar
  • Sit down, take a load off!
  • sit down and take a load off
  • take a load off, relax
  • Take a load off your feet

Go get a healthy snack, take a load off and enjoy.

Examples

Synonyms

to sit
vsto take a load off
∞ 1.0

To rest with your weight on your bottom on a seat

adds the idea of sitting after activity to recover energy
to sit down
vsto take a load off
∞ 1.0

Move from standing into a chair or onto the ground

means sitting specifically to rest after standing or activity
to rest
vsto take a load off
816 1.0

To stop activity to relax or sleep and get energy back

emphasizes sitting down immediately after standing or activity to recover energy
to take a break
vsto take a load off
496 1.4

To stop doing something for a short time to rest or relax before continuing

implies the break includes sitting down after standing or effort
to sit back
vsto take a load off
  • Informal
87 2.7

To lean back and relax while you watch

is similar but clearly involves sitting down after activity to rest
to wind down
vsto take a load off
  • Informal
39 3.7

To relax after a busy or stressful time and slowly come to an end

is a quicker action of sitting down to rest after activity
to unwind
vsto take a load off
35 3.4

Become relaxed and less tense after work or a stressful time

is about sitting down immediately to rest after standing or effort
to breathe
vsto take a load off
  • Informal
25 2.6

To take a short break to rest

focuses on sitting down specifically as the way to rest
to take time out
vsto take a load off
24 3.2

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

emphasizes sitting down to rest after standing or being active
to take a breather
vsto take a load off
  • Informal
14 3.5

To stop and rest for a short time

specifies that the pause involves sitting down to rest
to put one's feet up
vsto take a load off
  • Informal
1 4.2

To relax while sitting or lying with your feet raised

matches resting but specifically includes raising the feet
to set a spell
vsto take a load off
  • Archaic
9.4

To sit and rest for a short time and talk

is the same idea but stresses resting after standing or exertion
to spin down
vsto take a load off
  • Informal
6.7

To relax and become less active after a busy time

is a more immediate act of sitting down to recover after exertion

Antonyms

to stand up
559 1.0

To get up from sitting or lying and be on your feet

How Rested

to sleep
∞ 1.0
to lie down
221 1.0
to take a load off
  • Informal
13 5.5
to sit
∞ 1.0
to stand
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

take a load off infinitive

Morphology

take + a + load + off

The literal composition 'take' + 'load' + 'off' transparently suggests removing a burden, so a learner who knows the words could infer a sense of relief or lessening of effort. However, the conventionalized sense 'sit down and rest' is a metaphorical extension (removing a load by physically sitting) and is not strictly predictable from the parts alone, so it is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Take a load off comes from the simple image of someone carrying a heavy load and then taking it off by sitting down and putting the weight down. So it now means 'sit down and rest'.