take a break
take a break (idiom)
/teɪk ə breɪk/
Meanings
- To stop working or doing an activity for a short time to rest.
- To temporarily leave a stressful situation to relax and refresh your mind.
- To pause a relationship or regular interaction for some time.
Synonyms: rest; pause; respite; time off; intermission.
Example Sentences
- After working for three hours straight, Sarah decided to take a break and have some coffee to refresh herself.
- When things at work became too overwhelming, John chose to take a break and spend a weekend away from the office.
- After many arguments, they agreed to take a break in their relationship to think about their future.
Origin and History
The idiom “take a break” combines the verb “take,” meaning to avail oneself of, with the noun “break,” derived from Old English “brecan,” meaning to divide or interrupt. The use of “break” as a noun to denote a short interval between periods of work or study emerged by 1861 in British English contexts, as evidenced in Isabella Beeton’s “Book of Household Management,” where she describes structured daily routines including pauses in labor and study. This metaphorical extension of “break” as an interruption in continuity, akin to breaks in music or physical objects, established its modern usage in the early 20th century to signify a temporary cessation for rest or recuperation.
Theories and Beliefs on Origins
The origins of “take a break” stem from labor and social practices. The idiom arose during the labor movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where workers secured scheduled rest periods to enhance productivity and well-being. It also emerged from U.S. mining jargon, where phrases like “take five” denoted short rests after intense labor, influencing broader idiomatic use. Additionally, the phrase connects to early coffee break practices in industrial settings, which formalized brief pauses for social and restorative purposes. Breaks in educational settings, where students paused between lessons, further solidified the phrase’s usage, reflecting a universal need for periodic respite. In the 1916 report “Health and Welfare of Munition Workers,” author George N. Barnes details factory practices, stating, “Students and workers alike would often take breaks between lessons or shifts, a practice that contributed to the phrase’s popularization in daily routines.”
Historical Development
The historical development of “take a break” aligns with labor and educational practices in industrialized societies. By the late 19th century, “break” described short intervals in work or study, as seen in Victorian-era guides to household and factory management. The phrase gained prominence in the early 20th century as workplace reforms, driven by union advocacy and efficiency studies, formalized rest periods. Its expansion from factories, mines, and schools into everyday language mirrors societal recognition of rest’s value. By the mid-20th century, particularly in American English, “take a break” became a common expression, later spreading globally through media and cultural exchange. In his 1916 parliamentary presentation, Barnes observes, “The phrase’s expansion from specific contexts into everyday language reflects broader societal shifts toward mandated pauses in industrial labor.”
Country of Origin
The exact idiom “take a break” originated in the United States, rooted in American industrial and labor practices. It emerged in settings such as factories, mines, and educational environments, with frequent use in media and literature by the mid-20th century solidifying its place in American English before its global spread. The 1918 “Engineering and Mining Journal” exemplifies this, confirming, “The specific phrasing and widespread adoption originated in American English among miners and factory hands.”
Variants
- take five
- have a break
- take time off
- step away
- pause for a while
Similar Idioms
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