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# time out

phrase (noun phrase «a time out» / «time-out», plural «time-outs»; also «take time out»)

«time out» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, parenting) a short punishment where a child is sent to sit alone and calm down for a few minutes.
2. (sport) a short break in a game called by a team.
3. (everyday) a break from work or normal life: «take some time out».

### In the lessons

Parents and teachers use «time out» to make a punishment sound calm and not angry; common in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. In sport and work it is a neutral break.

### Examples

- (parent) That's a time out — go and sit on the stairs.
- (teacher) Jake needed a time out to calm down.
- (basketball) The coach called a time out with ten seconds left.
- (work) She took time out to look after her baby.
- (chat) taking a time out from social media
- (maths) A 3-minute time out for a 3-year-old, 4 minutes for a 4-year-old.

### Note

Trap: for a child it is a punishment; in sport it is a rest the team chooses; for adults «taking time out» is a choice to rest. The hand sign is a T shape.