coffee break: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (B1+)Neutral to informal. Common in workplace, event, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “coffee break” mean?
A short, scheduled pause during work or an event for people to drink coffee and rest.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A short, scheduled pause during work or an event for people to drink coffee and rest.
Any brief informal pause for refreshment or socializing, not necessarily involving coffee; a metaphorical intermission in activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard in both. 'Elevenses' (UK) is a specific mid-morning break, often for tea/coffee, but is not a direct synonym for a general workday coffee break.
Connotations
Similar connotations of informal rest and socialization in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent and understood in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “coffee break” in a Sentence
take/have + a + coffee breakduring + the + coffee breakcoffee break + is + at [time]coffee break + lasts + for [duration]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coffee break” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We'll coffee-break at half ten.
- They're coffee-breaking in the lounge.
American English
- Let's coffee break in 15 minutes.
- The team is coffee-breaking by the machines.
adjective
British English
- He took a coffee-break stroll around the block.
- The coffee-break chat turned into a strategy session.
American English
- We have a coffee-break room on the third floor.
- It was just a coffee-break conversation, nothing formal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A scheduled short pause in meetings or the workday, e.g., 'The conference includes a coffee break at 10:30.'
Academic
Used during conferences, seminars, or sometimes in reference to study breaks.
Everyday
Commonly used to refer to a pause during any prolonged activity, like shopping or driving.
Technical
Rare. Might be used in project management to denote a scheduled short halt.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coffee break”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coffee break”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coffee break”
- Using uncountable: 'I had coffee break' (incorrect) vs. 'I had a coffee break' (correct).
- Confusing with 'coffee time' which is less structured.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The name is conventional; people may drink tea, water, or have a snack. The core meaning is a short rest pause.
Typically 10-20 minutes, often scheduled. An informal 'quick coffee break' can be just 5 minutes.
Yes. It can be used for any activity, e.g., 'Let's take a coffee break during our shopping trip.'
A coffee break is short (minutes) for a drink/light snack. A lunch break is longer (30-60 mins minimum) for a main meal.
A short, scheduled pause during work or an event for people to drink coffee and rest.
Coffee break is usually neutral to informal. common in workplace, event, and everyday contexts. in register.
Coffee break: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒfi ˌbreɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːfi ˌbreɪk/ or /ˈkɑːfi ˌbreɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Let's take five.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a coffee cup with a crack (break) in it – time to stop and fix it with a drink.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE / WORK IS A JOURNEY (a coffee break is a pit stop on the journey of work).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'coffee break' LEAST appropriate?