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Glite Dictionary
smoko

smoko

1 9.8
A short break at work to smoke or have a drink
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : descanso para fumar
  • I got no money, he's got the smoko, he wants money.

Examples

  • Give me a five-minute smoko break, then you can tell me.

    Billy (2011)

  • Got any that smoko left, Pete?

    West (2007)

  • - Ahh, bit of smoko?

    West (2007)

  • Not sure what that is, but I'm guessing it's not smoko.

    Crackerjack (2002)

  • It's not smoko yet.

    December Boys (2007)

  • During the long shift, we took a quick smoko in the staff room to refresh ourselves.

  • After finishing the project, the team enjoyed a well-deserved smoko under the shady tree outside.

  • They decided to have a brief smoko to recharge before returning to their tasks.

Synonyms

coffee break
vssmoko
20 1.0

A short break from work to drink coffee or eat a small snack

is used for smoking or refreshments rather than only for drinks
tea break
vssmoko
  • UK
1 1.3

A short informal break at work to drink tea or another drink

is for smoking or refreshments rather than primarily for tea
quick breather
vssmoko
  • Informal
1 3.0

A short break to breathe and rest

is a social short break often for smoking or refreshments
quick smoko
vssmoko
  • Australian
9.9

A short break at work to smoke a cigarette

is a brief work break that can be for smoking or for refreshments

Antonyms

work
∞ 1.0

Effort people use to do a job or task

Compounds

daily smoko
  • Australian
9.9

A short break each day at work to drink, smoke or relax

quick smoko
  • Australian
9.9

A short break at work to smoke a cigarette

How Long

lunching
1 1.0
smoko
  • Australian
1 9.8
coffee break
20 1.0
breather
  • Informal
31 3.4

Surface Forms

smoko singular
smokos plural

Morphology

smoko = smoke (semi-transparent) = smoke + o

The meaning 'short break to smoke' is predictable from 'smoke' plus the colloquial Australian suffix '-o', but the suffix is dialectal and may be unfamiliar to many learners.

Etymology

Smoko comes from the everyday word smoke plus the casual Australian ending -o, and it began as a name for a little time to smoke or have a drink. So a smoko still means a 'short break' at work, often to smoke, have a cup of tea, or chat with other workers.