time off
- noun
- /taɪm ɔf/
- Thomas Jefferson took time off from his meticulous architectural drafting to become Secretary of State.
- take time off
- time off work
- paid time off
Yeah, but I take oodles of time off between.
- Yeah, but I take oodles of time off between.
- I'll stop being such an annoying little bitch and just take some time off for myself, you know?
- May have to take like full time off to do this.
- And I also enjoyed the time off.
- I really want to take some time off.
- And because I have earned that within myself, when I need time off, I take time off.
- I took AI took it some time off yesterday.
Examples
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After numerous requests, his boss permitted him to take time off from work without pay.
Academic text (2012) -
I'm gonna take some time off, so things can actually happen to me again.
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So you took some time off and came back without a voice.
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But I think it's healthy to not, you know, to take that time off as well.
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Look, you want to take time off, take time off.
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I took time off of work for this.
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The director must have asked if he could get time off, I guess.
Fiction book (1994) -
When parents like Mr. Sau take time off work, it means less income for the month.
Academic text (2012) -
Employers will often give these volunteers time off from work to participate in a mentoring program.
Academic text (1997) -
After months of hard work, she decided to take time off to relax and recharge.
Synonyms
Official permission to be absent from work or duty
A day when you do not have to work
A time when you are not working and can do things you enjoy
Time not spent working when you can relax or do things you enjoy
A short break from an activity to rest or talk about what to do next
A period when someone is officially allowed to be away from work or school
A period away from work because a worker is ill
A time away from work when a person still gets their usual money
Free time when you are not working and can relax or do things you like
Time away from work to care for family members after a birth, adoption, or when they are ill
A day when people do not work and relax, often for religious reasons
Time off work to care for a new child after birth or adoption
A day to relax and not work
A long time away from work for personal, medical, or family reasons
A period of paid time away from work to study or travel
Antonyms
How Long
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a period when you do not have to work' is directly derivable from combining 'time' (a span or period) with 'off' (not working/inactive), so the phrase literally denotes time when one is off duty. This is a common, compositional English pattern (and has close parallels in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily understand it.
Etymology
Time off: The noun time off comes from the simple idea of taking time 'off' from work, like switching a light off when you stop using it so it is not working. So it means a period when you are 'not working' and can rest or be on holiday.