take a break

take a break — idiom

1. to pause what you are doing for a short time, usually so that you can rest, eat,

1.idiomintransitiveA2
Definition

to pause what you are doing for a short time, usually so that you can rest, eat, or have a drink

Example

Nicholas took a break from painting the fence to drink some water.

take a break from + -ing form

After two hours of maths homework, Wren decided to take a break.

Common collocations
  • take a short break
  • take a quick break
  • take a well-earned break
  • take a lunch break
  • take a coffee break
  • take a break from work
Synonyms
  • pause

    suggests a shorter stop and is more formal; used for activities rather than rest

  • rest

    focuses on physical recovery and does not always imply the stop is temporary

  • take five

    informal; specifically means a break of about five minutes

Antonyms
  • push on

    continue without stopping, especially when tired

  • power through

    keep going despite fatigue or difficulty

Grammar Patterns

take a break

take a break from + noun

take a break from + -ing

Usage Note

Often followed by 'from' + noun or -ing form to name the activity being paused. Adjectives like 'short', 'quick', 'well-earned', and 'much-needed' frequently modify 'break'.

Common Mistakes

I'm tired, let's take a rest.
I'm tired, let's take a break.
'take a rest' is not natural English; the natural collocation is 'take a break'.
I need to break for ten minutes.
I need to take a break for ten minutes.
'break' alone as a verb means to damage or shatter; the phrase requires 'take a break'.

Synonym discussion

Sense: idiom/1

Take a break is the most natural, everyday way to say you are stopping an activity briefly to recover. Pause is more formal and often shorter — you might pause a video or pause mid-sentence, but you take a break from work. Rest focuses on physical recovery and can describe longer periods (a good night's rest); it does not always carry the sense that the stop is temporary. Take five is casual and specific: it originally meant a five-minute break and is common in rehearsal or workplace settings. Take time out is more deliberate — it suggests stepping away from responsibilities for a longer, planned period, such as taking time out from a career to travel. Example contrast: 'Let's take a break and get coffee' (natural daily speech) vs. 'She decided to take time out from her studies to care for her mother' (a significant, planned pause).

pause ↗rest ↗take fivetake time out ↗

Etymology

English

The word 'break' has been used as a noun meaning 'an interruption or pause' since the 1500s, originally from the verb 'break' (to separate into pieces). The phrase 'take a break' became widely used in the early 20th century, as labour laws and workplace culture introduced the idea of scheduled rest periods during the working day.