take off time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take off time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a period when someone is not working, often for rest or vacation purposes. Example: "I plan to take off time next month to recharge and spend time with my family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I'm going to try to take off time for the holidays, but I don't know if I can this year.

The New York Times

Dr. Loretta Finnegan, medical adviser at the institute's Office of Research on Women's Health, said that women might be reluctant to take off time from work or from providing care to a family member for the operation and its rehabilitation.

The New York Times - Health

"The cameo we had planned would've involved me going to Croatia," Martin said in March, "and I just couldn't find the time between all my other trips and my speaking engagements and the work I had to do to take off time to fly to Croatia".

The Guardian - Books

One solution is to allow employees to take off time when they need it -- not when the company dictates they take time.

Huffington Post

Many testifiers seemed to be confused as to how democracy works, arguing that legislators should kill SB1 because people had waited in line for hours to testify, their cars had been towed, they had to take off time from work, and they were tired.

Huffington Post

We will also provide a total incentive of up to $100 US per individual as compensation for their time participating in the study; participants often must take off time to attend clinic assessments and this nominal compensation is appropriate.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

And she has twice taken off time to work on Mr. Bloomberg's campaigns.

The New York Times

He takes off time at Christmas and spends it at home in Attleboro, Massachusetts, with owners William and Tina Truesdale.

The New Yorker

His son's prediction: "I'm probably taking off time for a while.

The New York Times

The authors would like to thank the participants for taking off time to participate in this study.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Many also did not want to lose income by taking off time from work to seek health care services.

Globalization and Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing planned absences from work, using "take off time" is appropriate. However, be specific about the duration if possible (e.g., "take a week off").

Common error

Be mindful of the context to avoid confusion with other meanings of "take off", such as an airplane leaving the ground or something suddenly becoming popular. Ensure clarity through surrounding words.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take off time" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of taking a break or absence from regular duties, typically work. Ludwig shows examples in various contexts, confirming its use in everyday language.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take off time" is a grammatically correct verb phrase that means to take a break or absence from regular duties, typically work. Ludwig AI indicates that it is most commonly found in news, wiki and scientific contexts. Alternatives include ""take some time off"", "take a break", and "go on vacation", though each carries slightly different connotations. When using the phrase, ensure the context clarifies that you are not referring to an aircraft taking off or something becoming popular. Be mindful of the duration and specify when necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take some time off

Minor variation in wording; equally common and interchangeable.

have some time off

Slightly different phrasing, implying possession of the time rather than the action of taking it.

take a break

This alternative is more general and doesn't necessarily imply a break from work; it could be any activity.

request time off

Focuses on the act of asking for permission to be absent, rather than the absence itself.

take a leave of absence

This alternative is more formal and often implies a longer, planned absence, typically from work.

be on leave

Describes the state of being absent, rather than the action of becoming absent.

go on vacation

This alternative suggests a leisure-focused trip and implies a longer break than "take off time".

enjoy a respite

This phrase emphasizes the relief and rest gained from the break.

take a sabbatical

This is a longer, more formal break, often for academic or professional development.

take a recess

Typically used for short, scheduled breaks, less often applied to work absence.

FAQs

What does "take off time" mean?

The phrase "take off time" refers to a period when someone is absent from work or other regular duties, often for vacation, rest, or personal reasons.

How to use "take off time" in a sentence?

You can use "take off time" like this: "I'm planning to "take some time off" next month to travel" or "She had to "take time off" to care for her sick child.

What can I say instead of "take off time"?

You can use alternatives like "take a break", "take a leave of absence", or "go on vacation" depending on the specific context and duration of the absence.

Is it correct to say "take off of time"?

No, the correct phrase is "take off time" or ""take some time off"". The preposition "of" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this context.