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to take time off

to take time off

26 2.6
To stop work for a short time to rest or deal with personal matters
  • phrasal verb
  • /teɪk taɪm ɔf/
translation icon : tomarse tiempo libre
  • She plans to take time off from work to travel this summer.
  • take time off work

Like I'm sure you take time off and you get rusty, right?

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Examples

  • Friends and family urged him to take time off, but he soon was restless.

    Blog text (15)
  • My younger brother got very sick, and I took time off to be with him.

    Blog text (24)
  • And so my why is that I went to college and got an education and then I took time off to be a mom.

  • Look, you want to take time off, take time off.

  • Do you ever take time off?

  • That sounds lovely, but it's really difficult for Steve to take time off work right now.

  • I finally convinced him to take time off for the wedding.

  • After numerous requests, his boss permitted him to take time off from work without pay.

    Academic text (2012)
  • When parents like Mr. Sau take time off work, it means less income for the month.

    Academic text (2012)
  • He's taking time off for fatherhood.

Synonyms

to rest
vsto take time off
816 1.0

To stop activity to relax or sleep and get energy back

is specifically about leaving work duties for a set period
to take a break
vsto take time off
496 1.4

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

refers to leaving duties for a longer period to recover or manage affairs
to take off
vsto take time off
341 3.1

To stop working for a short time

is a general absence to rest or handle personal matters
to take the day off
vsto take time off
31 2.0

Stay away from work for a day to rest or do personal things

is used for absences of any length, not only one day
to take time out
vsto take time off
24 3.2

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

is used for longer or work-related absences rather than short pauses
to take a breather
vsto take time off
  • Informal
14 3.5

To stop and rest for a short time

means leaving duties for a longer planned absence rather than a short pause
to vacay
vsto take time off
  • Informal
1 9.1

To take time away from work to rest or travel

is any absence for rest or personal reasons, formal or informal

Antonyms

5 3.7

To keep doing a job or task without stopping for a long time

How Long

sabbatical
31 6.6
to take time off
26 2.6
to take a break
496 1.4

Surface Forms

take time off infinitive
taken time off past participle
taking time off present participle
takes time off third person singular

Morphology

take + time + off

The meaning 'to stop working or take a break' is directly derivable from the constituents: 'take' (to seize/use), 'time' (a period), and 'off' (away/removed), so the phrase literally means to take a period away from duties. This compositional pattern (verb + time + particle indicating removal) is common in English and similar across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the words will very likely understand it.

Etymology

Take time off gives a clear image: you take a block of time off from work, like removing it from your schedule to set aside. So it means 'stop working for a while' to rest, recover, or deal with personal matters.