Meaning & use
the day off
Last updated
UK/ðə ˌdeɪ ˈɒf/
US/ðə ˌdeɪ ˈɔːf/
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
A day when you do not go to work or school, especially one you have arranged in advance.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: take the day off, have the day off.
Patterns
- take the day off
- have the day off
- give someone the day off
I'm taking the day off tomorrow to go to my sister's wedding.
She has the day off, so she's going to the beach.
The boss gave us the day off after the big project.
Common combinations
- take the day off
- He decided to take the day off and relax.
- have the day off
- Do you have the day off on Monday?
- give someone the day off
- My manager gave me the day off for my birthday.
- the whole day off
- I finally had the whole day off to myself.
Synonyms and how they differ
- a day off
- More general and used when the day is not specified; 'the day off' refers to a particular day already known to the listener.
- holiday
- In British English, 'holiday' often means a vacation, while 'the day off' is just one free day.
Commonly confused: the day off or day out?
the day off vs day out
A 'day out' is a leisure trip, not a day free from work.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
When you mean a specific, already-known day, use 'the day off.' 'A day off' is possible but less specific; 'day off' without an article is not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the day off”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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