Showing results for "time-out"

• a variation of timeout.

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• time-out
  time-out

  noun

  sport an interruption in play during which players rest, discuss tactics, or make substitutions
• time out
  time out

  A short break from work or play; also, a punishment for misbehavior in young children in which they are briefly separated from the group. For example, People rush around so much these days that I think everyone should take some time out now and then, or We don't throw food, Brian; you need some time out to think about it. This expression comes from a number of sports in which it signifies an interruption in play where the officials stop the clock, for purposes of rest, making a substitution, or consultation. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.

time-out

British  

noun

1. sport an interruption in play during which players rest, discuss tactics, or make substitutions

2. a break taken during working hours

3. computing a condition occurring when the amount of time a computer has been instructed to wait for another device to perform a task has expired, usually indicated by an error message

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verb

1. (intr) (of a computer) to stop operating because of a time-out

time out Idioms  

1. A short break from work or play; also, a punishment for misbehavior in young children in which they are briefly separated from the group. For example, People rush around so much these days that I think everyone should take some time out now and then, or We don't throw food, Brian; you need some time out to think about it. This expression comes from a number of sports in which it signifies an interruption in play where the officials stop the clock, for purposes of rest, making a substitution, or consultation. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

time-out time out

The public saw all that and could only wonder: Hasn’t C.K.’s time-out lasted long enough?

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026

But when the defendant walked in, Harvey asked for a time-out.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025

She said offers of reduced timetables or "time-out" passes, whilst well-intentioned, actually made her children feel worse.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2025

“When we finally got let out of our collective time-out corner, we really wanted to go do stuff,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2025

Rufus looks so confused, like he might call time-out to see if we’re still playing the same game.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

Gentle parenting is seen by some as the latest swing away from a strict, detached parenting style popular in the 1990s, which often relied on controlled crying, the naughty step and time out.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

Following the 2-1 victory against Hull City at St James' Park last time out, he even paid for a supporter's birthday meal.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

During his time out of the octagon, he observed how the division changed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

It's well-documented that even short periods of time out of school, like the summer holidays, can lead to an increase in children's weight.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

I was spending considerable time out of school, especially during the months of December, January, and February, because of my asthma.

From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals

Related Words

• breather
• letup
• lull