take five
idiomatic phrase
variants
or take ten
US, informal
: to take a brief break (as from work)
They're locked in a fierce debate over the last scene of their film … when camp director and Hollywood veteran Sam Dalton finally orders them to take five.—
Megan Myers
Megan MyersParry Aftab, the executive director of WiredSafety.org, offers these tips for dealing with troubling messages. … Take five. Instead of replying to a message that upsets you, step away and do something you enjoy for five minutes.—Nicole Iorio
Nicole IorioI could see his anger had nearly boiled over. … Coach Colby, who ran the defense, was the brave soul who stepped in. "Take ten," he said, placing a hand on Orlando's chest. "Cool off. Then suit up and meet at the fifty-yard line. Got it?"—Brandon Terrell
Brandon TerrellExamples of take five in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lastly, Towns has only taken five 3s in 60 minutes of preseason action.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Joseph Clifton Smith, who was convicted of capital murder for the 1997 beating death of Durk Van Dam, has taken five IQ tests, four of which placed his IQ in the low- to mid-70s.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 5 Oct. 2025
The first batch of episodes once again took five engaged couples on the post-pod vacation in Mexico, but there was already plenty of trouble in paradise.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025
The project ultimately took five years to come together.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take five
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James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Joseph Clifton Smith, who was convicted of capital murder for the 1997 beating death of Durk Van Dam, has taken five IQ tests, four of which placed his IQ in the low- to mid-70s.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 5 Oct. 2025
The first batch of episodes once again took five engaged couples on the post-pod vacation in Mexico, but there was already plenty of trouble in paradise.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025
The project ultimately took five years to come together.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take five
Cite this Entry
“Take five.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20five. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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