coffee break

Meaning

A short pause from work or study, usually lasting 10 to 15 minutes, to drink coffee, relax, and chat with colleagues. It is a casual way to recharge during the workday.

Examples

• Let's take a quick coffee break before the next meeting starts.

  Let's take a quick coffee break before the next meeting starts.

• I usually have a coffee break around 10:30 AM to stretch my legs.

  I usually have a coffee break around 10:30 AM to stretch my legs.

• During our coffee break, we talked about our weekend plans.

  During our coffee break, we talked about our weekend plans.

• Is anyone up for a coffee break? I need to get away from my desk.

  Is anyone up for a coffee break? I need to get away from my desk.

• He met his new coworker in the breakroom during a coffee break.

  He met his new coworker in the breakroom during a coffee break.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Let's make a coffee break.

  ✓ Let's take a coffee break.

  In English, we 'take' or 'have' a break. We do not 'make' it.

• ✗ I am on coffee break now.

  ✓ I am on a coffee break now.

  'Coffee break' is a countable noun in this context and requires the indefinite article 'a'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I've been staring at this screen for hours, I really need to take a ___.

  💡 A short pause to rest and drink something.

  Show answer

  coffee break

• Do you want to join us for a ___ in the cafeteria?

  💡 A brief rest period with coworkers.

  Show answer

  coffee break