perk
B2Informal to neutral in business contexts; 'perk' as noun is common; 'perk up' as phrasal verb is conversational.
Definition
Meaning
A special advantage or benefit received in addition to regular pay or salary, often associated with employment.
1) To recover or cheer up; 2) To become more alert or attentive (often 'perk up'); 3) Coffee (British informal, short for 'percolated coffee'); 4) To raise or stick up (as in ears).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, primarily countable, refers to tangible employment benefits. The verb 'perk' is almost always used with 'up' except in rare cases ('his ears perked'). British informal 'perk' for coffee is dated.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Noun 'perk' (benefit) is common in both. 'Perk' for coffee is exclusively British informal (dated). Verb 'perk up' identical in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, noun carries slightly informal/business blend. In UK, older generations may recognise coffee meaning.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American corporate/business writing than in UK, but well-established in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[noun] perkperk upperk [something] up[be] perked upVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “perk up one's ears”
- “the perks of the job”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common in HR, recruitment, and corporate discussions of compensation packages.
Academic
Rare except in business/management studies discussing employee motivation.
Everyday
Used when discussing jobs, benefits, or when someone's mood improves ('perk up').
Technical
Not technical; occasionally in economics as 'non-wage compensation'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She perked up when she heard the good news.
- The smell of coffee perked him up immediately.
- His interest perked up during the presentation.
American English
- He perked up after a short nap.
- The market perked up following the announcement.
- Let's perk this party up with some music.
adverb
British English
- N/A (no established adverb form)
American English
- N/A (no established adverb form)
adjective
British English
- N/A (no established adjective form)
American English
- N/A (no established adjective form)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The free lunch is a nice perk.
- She perked up when she saw her friend.
- One perk of the job is flexible working hours.
- He perked up after drinking some coffee.
- The company offers several perks including gym membership and private healthcare.
- The team's morale perked up when the new manager arrived.
- Despite the modest salary, the range of non-monetary perks makes the position attractive.
- The discussion perked up considerably once the controversial topic was introduced.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PERK rhymes with WORK – think of the extra benefits you get with your WORK.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMPLOYMENT IS A PACKAGE (with added items); ENTHUSIASM IS UP (perk up).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как 'привилегия' (privilege) – это менее исключительное понятие.
- Не путать с 'perk' как глаголом и существительным – разные значения.
- Избегать кальки 'перк' в формальном контексте.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'perk' as uncountable noun (*a lot of perk).
- Using verb without 'up' when meaning 'cheer up' (*she perked after coffee).
- Spelling as 'perq' (archaic).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'perk' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's neutral-informal in business contexts but considered too informal for legal or highly formal documents where 'benefit' or 'perquisite' might be preferred.
Rarely. Almost always used as 'perk up' meaning to become more cheerful or alert. The standalone verb can describe ears pricking up ('The dog's ears perked').
A bonus is typically a monetary payment, often performance-related. A perk is a non-monetary benefit or privilege, like a company car or free meals.
It's dated and mostly used by older generations. Most younger speakers would simply say 'coffee'.
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