taking a holiday

USAGE SUMMARY

"taking a holiday" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone deciding to take a vacation. For example, "After a particularly stressful semester, Sam decided to treat himself by taking a holiday to the beach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Personal Finance

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Chocolate, though, is not taking a holiday.

The New York Times - Food

He was taking a holiday break with a business partner.

The Guardian

I remember taking a holiday in May 1981 in Kos.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There's nothing "natural or obvious" about taking a holiday abroad, he says by way of example.

The Guardian

After a trying 12 months I am considering taking a holiday on my own.

The Guardian - Travel

Going away meant taking a holiday from your regular media habits.

The Guardian

For a freelancer, actually taking a holiday presents a dilemma and something I struggle with.

The Guardian

You can then pay off chunks of your debt while taking a holiday from the interest.

The Guardian - Money

"During that time I will be taking a holiday from twitter and, with a few exceptions, not tweeting at all".

Independent

She is on a sabbatical from Fairfield University, but she is not taking a holiday from speaking engagements.

The New York Times

The mission was top secret and Kuchumov was ordered to tell his colleagues he was taking a holiday.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "taking a holiday" when referring to a planned period of rest and recreation, especially in contexts where British English is preferred or when emphasizing a traditional holiday experience. Remember to adjust the phrase according to your target audience.

Common error

Avoid using "taking a holiday" to refer to religious observances. "Holiday" in this context refers to vacation time, not a "holy day". Use specific terms like "observing "Christmas"" or "celebrating "Eid"" to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taking a holiday" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It describes the action of going on vacation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Travel

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "taking a holiday" is a grammatically sound and frequently used gerund phrase, predominantly in British English, to describe going on vacation. Ludwig AI validates its use across various contexts, primarily in news and media. While alternatives like "going on vacation" exist, "taking a holiday" remains a clear and acceptable choice. Remembering to differentiate between the vacation-related meaning of "holiday" and the concept of a "holy day" can prevent potential confusion. If your target audience is American, though, "going on vacation" might be more adequate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going on vacation

Replaces "holiday" with "vacation", a more common term in American English.

being on holiday

A more direct way of stating that someone is currently enjoying a holiday.

having a vacation

A slightly more formal way of expressing "going on vacation".

taking time off

A more general term for taking time away from regular duties.

going on leave

Emphasizes the permission or authorization aspect of taking time off, often from work.

enjoying a break

Focuses on the positive experience of resting and relaxing.

going away for a while

A less specific way of saying someone is leaving for a period of time.

taking a respite

Emphasizes the need for rest and relief from stress.

taking a sabbatical

Refers to a longer period of leave, often for study or research.

enjoying some leisure time

Highlights the free time aspect of a holiday.

FAQs

What does "taking a holiday" mean?

The phrase "taking a holiday" means going on vacation, or taking time off from work or other responsibilities for leisure and relaxation.

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

You can use alternatives like "going on vacation", "taking time off", or "enjoying a break" depending on the context.

Is "taking a holiday" more common in British or American English?

"Taking a holiday" is more commonly used in British English. In American English, "going on vacation" is more prevalent.

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

You can use "taking a holiday" in a sentence like: "After a stressful year, she decided she needed to start "taking a break" and "taking a holiday" to the Bahamas."