All phrases › come up for air
What does “come up for air” mean?
Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.
C1
To take a brief break during an intense period
“We finally came up for air once the audit was over.”
Say it smoothly: “come-upf'rair”
From the C1 lesson Switching Off (downtime and balance).
Quick check
What does “come up for air” mean?
Teaching this phrase?“come up for air” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 1 (Life, People and Places).
See the C1 lesson pack
See the C1 lesson pack
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Related phrases
- unplugto stop engaging with work, screens or responsibilities, even briefly
- decompressto relax and let go of tension after a stressful period
- run yourself into the groundto exhaust yourself completely through overwork
- know when to call it quits (for the day)to recognize the right moment to stop working
- burn the candle at both endsto overwork and under-rest, risking burnout
- take stockto pause and honestly assess your situation
- live to work rather than work to liveto prioritize your job over the rest of your life
- be in dire need of (sth)to urgently and obviously need something
- hit a wallto reach a sudden point of exhaustion or inability to continue