taking a breather

USAGE SUMMARY

"taking a breather" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is usually used as a metaphor for taking a break or a pause from a task or activity. For example, "After a long day at work, I felt like I needed to take a breather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But for now, I'm taking a breather.

The New York Times

My practical move is taking a breather.

The New Yorker

It was merely taking a breather.

The Times

He's definitely not taking a breather to dance.

The New York Times - Arts

WALL STREET JOURNAL Private Equity Taking a Breather?

The New York Times

"Right now the market is kind of taking a breather".

The New York Times

Damien Lee could be forgiven for taking a breather.

The Times

Everyone's taking a breather while Miller gets treatment.

The Guardian - Sport

Even the ever ebullient American consumer seems to be taking a breather.

The Economist

"The market's had a decent rally over the last few weeks, and we're taking a breather".

The New York Times

It had rained heavily all day, but at 7 p.m. the clouds were taking a breather.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "taking a breather" to soften the impact of announcing a temporary cessation of activities, especially in contexts where complete abandonment might be perceived negatively.

Common error

Avoid using "taking a breather" in highly formal documents; opt for more professional alternatives like "pausing operations" or "suspending temporarily".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taking a breather" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a noun indicating the action of pausing or resting. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and understood in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "taking a breather" is a common and generally accepted English phrase used to describe a temporary pause or rest from an activity. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it serves to communicate a break for recovery or reassessment. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts, with more formal alternatives available for professional or academic settings. The phrase is understood to function as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun in many sentence structures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking a break

More general term for stopping activity.

pausing for a moment

Highlights the short duration of the rest.

resting for a while

Emphasizes the rest aspect of the pause.

stopping to catch one's breath

Focuses on the physical act of breathing and recovering.

taking time out

Focuses on the act of extracting oneself from the current situation.

downtime

Directly referring to the period of rest or inactivity.

recharging one's batteries

Implies restoring energy during the pause.

having a hiatus

Suggests a more formal or extended break.

taking a sabbatical

Implies a longer period of rest from work or studies.

taking a recess

More formal term, often used in legal or parliamentary contexts.

FAQs

How to use "taking a breather" in a sentence?

You can use "taking a breather" to indicate a pause or rest from an activity. For example, "After the marathon, I was "taking a breather" before starting to train again."

What can I say instead of "taking a breather"?

You can use alternatives like "taking a break", "pausing for a moment", or "resting for a while" depending on the context.

Is "taking a breather" formal or informal?

"Taking a breather" is generally considered informal to neutral. For more formal situations, consider using phrases like "suspending temporarily" or "pausing operations".

Which is correct, "taking a breather" or "take a breather"?

Both "taking a breather" and "take a breather" are correct, but they function differently. "Taking a breather" often acts as a gerund phrase (noun), while "take a breather" is an imperative (command) or infinitive form.