half-time
B1Neutral to Informal in sports contexts; formal in employment/contract contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The point or interval midway through a game, performance, or event, often used for a break, assessment, or strategic adjustment.
A designated break period; a point for interim evaluation or adjustment in any process; working or studying for half of the normal hours.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both the specific moment ("at half-time") and the duration of the break ("during half-time"). In employment, it's a compound adjective ("a half-time job").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK often uses hyphen ('half-time'), US may use hyphen or solid ('halftime'). Usage is identical in sports. In employment contexts, 'part-time' is more common than 'half-time' in both varieties.
Connotations
Primarily associated with sports (football, rugby, basketball). In business, 'half-time' can metaphorically refer to a mid-project review.
Frequency
High frequency in sports reporting and casual conversation about games. Lower frequency in formal employment contexts compared to 'part-time'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + lead + at half-time[Team] + go into half-time + [score/prepositional phrase][Manager] + give + [a team] + a half-time talkVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a game of two halves (often said at half-time)”
- “It's not over until the final whistle (contrasting with half-time).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'Let's take a half-time review of the project's progress.'
Academic
Descriptive in sports science or event management studies.
Everyday
Talking about watching a football match: 'I'll make a cup of tea at half-time.'
Technical
Precise timing in sports broadcasting or official match reports.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The manager gave a passionate team talk at half-time.
- The half-time score was one-all.
American English
- The halftime show at the Super Bowl is a major event.
- They trailed by ten points at halftime.
adverb
British English
- He works half-time and studies the rest of the week. (Less common)
American English
- She is employed halftime while finishing her degree. (Less common)
adjective
British English
- She has a half-time contract with the university.
- He is looking for half-time work after retiring.
American English
- She secured a halftime position at the library.
- The halftime analyst provided key insights.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The football players rest at half-time.
- The score is 2-0 at half-time.
- Our team was losing at half-time, but we won the match.
- She works half-time at a local shop.
- The coach's strategic substitutions during the half-time interval changed the game's dynamics.
- The report presented the half-time financial results for the fiscal year.
- Critics panned the spectacular but vapid halftime show, arguing it detracted from the athletic contest.
- The consultancy was brought in to conduct a half-time review of the multi-year digital transformation programme.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a clock: HALF the TIME has passed in the game.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A JOURNEY (we have reached the halfway point). A PROCESS IS A SPORTS MATCH (with a break for assessment).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'полвремени' – not used. Use 'перерыв' or 'тайм' in sports contexts. For employment, use 'работа на полставки'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'half-time' as a verb (*'We will half-time the meeting'). Using it without an article when needed ('He got job' vs. 'He got a half-time job').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'half-time' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Half-time' (with a hyphen) is more common in British English, while 'halftime' (closed) is increasingly common in American English, especially in sports journalism.
It's possible but metaphorical and informal. It suggests comparing the meeting to a sports match. Terms like 'mid-point break', 'intermission', or simply 'break' are more standard.
'Half-time' specifically means 50% of standard full-time hours. 'Part-time' is broader and can mean any proportion less than full-time, from a few hours to nearly full-time.
No. Sports with continuous play or periods (e.g., hockey, basketball) have 'halftime.' Sports divided into innings (baseball) or sets (tennis) do not use the term.