vacation is over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vacation is over" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a holiday or break has come to an end, often in a context related to returning to work or school. Example: "After a long and relaxing break, it's time to face reality again; vacation is over."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

On the day the boys moved into his house, Anderson told them, "The damn vacation is over".

The New Yorker

His vacation is over, but he doesn't know when he will be able to go back to work.

The New Yorker

But after summer vacation is over, he does not expect to bring the girls on the campaign trail too often.

The New York Times

So the long vacation is over, classes have resumed, and the French are once again being bombarded with books.

The New York Times - Books

"Believe me," Mr. McCurry said, "by the time the vacation is over, you'll have a picture of him studying some manual".

The New York Times

There they were greeted by Myers Anderson, known to his grandchildren as Daddy, who announced brusquely, "The damn vacation is over".

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

Summer vacation was over, but that did not stop children and teenagers from heading to the Bronx River after school last Thursday for a dip in their favorite forbidden spot: the water atop a manmade waterfall where the Bronx Zoo meets Bronx River Park.

The New York Times

"Tidal Wave Kills 600, Thousands Homeless". I could see the headline, and in that moment I didn't care, as long as my vacation was over by then and I was reading it on the subway.

The New York Times - Travel

Susan Orlean wasn't afraid to tweet about the challenge this week: "I so enjoy spending time with my darling child PLEASE GOD WHEN WILL SPRING VACATION BE OVER MAKE IT NOW".

Huffington Post

When the 2010 summer vacation was over, she and her classmates continued classes in a temporary open-air space, as their school was still out of action.

Unicef

But again when vacations are over, they donot regularly do the meditation and yoga.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vacation is over" to signal a return to routine activities, such as work or school, after a period of leisure or travel. It's commonly used to set expectations or acknowledge a shift in priorities.

Common error

Avoid using "vacation is over" excessively, especially when the context is already clear. Repetitive use can make your writing sound monotonous. Instead, vary your language to express the same idea in different ways.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vacation is over" functions as a declarative statement indicating the termination of a holiday or break. It's used to announce or acknowledge the end of a period of leisure and the resumption of routine activities. As Ludwig AI's analysis suggests, it's a straightforward way to convey that the time for relaxation has ended.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

17%

HuffPost

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "vacation is over" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate the end of a period of leisure and the return to regular activities. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness for a wide array of contexts, predominantly in News & Media, Formal & Business. While generally neutral in tone, it’s crucial to avoid overuse and vary your language for better impact. Alternatives such as "holiday has ended" or "break time is done" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. Remember to signal the return to routine using the expression and vary your language in order not to be repetitive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Holiday has ended

Replaces "vacation" with "holiday", a common synonym, and uses "ended" instead of "is over".

Break time is done

Substitutes "vacation" with "break time" and "is over" with "is done", offering a more informal tone.

The respite concludes

Uses the more formal word "respite" for vacation, and "concludes" for "is over", creating a more sophisticated tone.

Leisure time is finished

Replaces "vacation" with "leisure time" and "is over" with "is finished", providing a slightly more descriptive alternative.

The fun is done

Replaces "vacation" with the more colloquial term "fun" and uses "is done" in place of "is over", resulting in a casual expression.

Time off is complete

Uses "time off" as a substitute for "vacation" and "complete" instead of "over", offering a slightly more formal alternative.

The getaway is finished

Replaces "vacation" with "the getaway", which implies a short break from routine, and uses "is finished" for a more emphatic ending.

Recess is done

Uses "recess" which is more usually used for a brief break from studying or class, implying short and quick rest instead of a long vacation.

The leave has expired

Uses "leave" often used in professional settings for vacation, and "has expired" instead of "is over", offering a professional tone.

Back to reality

Uses a more figurative term that suggests the return to everyday life after a break or vacation, expressing a return from pleasure.

FAQs

How can I use "vacation is over" in a sentence?

You can use "vacation is over" to signal a return to routine activities. For example, "After a relaxing two weeks, vacation is over, and it's time to get back to work."

What are some alternatives to saying "vacation is over"?

You can use alternatives like "holiday has ended", "break time is done", or "the respite concludes depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "vacation is over" in formal writing?

While "vacation is over" is generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "the leave has expired" or "time off is complete" in professional or academic contexts.

What does it mean when someone says "vacation is over"?

When someone says "vacation is over", it typically means that a period of rest, leisure, or travel has come to an end, and it's time to return to regular responsibilities and routines. The phrase signals a transition back to normal life after a break.