Synonyms and antonyms of Time off from work in British Thesaurus

absenteeism (noun)

the habit of not being at school or work when you should be, usually without a good reason

break (noun)

a rest from the work or job that you usually do

break (noun)

British a period of time when most people do not go to work

career break (noun)

British a short period of time when you decide not to work in your profession, for example because you want to travel or to look after your children

career gapper (noun)

someone who takes a long break from their job in order to travel or do a different job, especially charity work in another country

coffee break (noun)

a short period of time when you stop working to eat or drink something

compassionate leave (noun)

time away from work that you are allowed to have because someone in your family is ill or has died

down time (noun)

time when you can relax and not work

duvet day (noun)

Britishinformal a day when someone stays off work because they are tired or ill

educational leave (noun)

time away from work that your employer gives you so that you can study

furlough (noun)

mainly literary a period of time during which someone is allowed to be away from a job or the armed forces

gardening leave (noun)

informal a period during which an employee who is leaving an organization continues to be paid but does not go to work, in order to stop them accessing or sharing confidential information

half-day (noun)

a day when you work or go to school only in the morning or the afternoon

holiday (noun)

British a period of time when you do not work or study and do things for pleasure instead. The American word is vacation

holiday (noun)

British the number of days or weeks during a year when you do not have to work but are paid. The American word is vacation

idle time (noun)

a period during which a piece of equipment or someone working for an organization is not doing anything

lay-off (noun)

a period of time when you are not working or performing an activity such as a sport, usually because you are ill or injured

leave (noun)

a period of time away from your job or from the armed forces

leave of absence (noun)

formal a period of time that you officially spend away from a job or the armed forces

lunch break (noun)

the period of time during which you stop work to have lunch and relax

lunch hour (noun)

a lunch break that continues for about an hour

maternity leave (noun)

time before and after the birth of a baby when a woman is allowed to be away from her job

maternity/paternity/parental leave ()

a period of time away from a job because you or your partner has just had a baby

me time (noun)

time that you spend relaxing and doing things that you enjoy rather than time spent doing things for other people

parental leave (noun)

a period of time away from work that is allowed to a parent to care for a baby or child

paternity leave (noun)

a period of time when a father is allowed to be away from work after the birth of his child

R and R (noun)

mainly Americaninformal a period of time when you do not work and can relax and have a holiday

recess (noun)

a short time between periods of work in an official organization, especially a court or parliament

sabbatical (noun)

a period away from work when people such as college or university teachers can study, rest, or travel

self-certification (noun)

a process in which an employee who is away from work because of illness signs a form to say they really are ill, instead of getting a signed form from a doctor

shore leave (noun)

a period of time when sailors on a ship are allowed to go on land and do not have to work

sickie (noun)

Britishvery informal a day when you say you are ill because you do not want to go to work

sick leave (noun)

a period of time during which you do not work because you are ill

snow day (noun)

a day when schools and businesses are shut because there is too much snow for people to travel

spare time (noun)

time when you do not have to work or study and when you can do what you like

stay off (British)

British to not go to work or school because you are ill

take French leave ()

to take time away from your job without asking for permission

take off ()

to have a particular amount of time away from work

tea break (noun)

British a short break from working, usually in order to drink or eat something

time off (noun)

time when you are not at work or at school

time out (noun)

a period of time when you stop what you usually do and you rest or do something else instead