"down time"

[jasonlulu_2000]

In setting out its plans for a five-term year, Nottingham City Council is seeking to reduce the summer holiday down to four and a half weeks, with a more balanced five terms of roughly eight weeks, each followed by a two-week break. We believe this will give real "down time" for school staff and pupils alike but will be short enough not to cause a real break in learning.

Does "down time" mean "spare time" as defined in a dictionary here?

Why does the author use the quotation mark" " plus real?

Thanks

 

[Tdol]

I think it means a break/time to relax, take things easy.

 

[BobK]

I have a feeling it originated in the IT world: 'There will be down-time for routine maintenance on Sunday. Systems will be available again at 08.00 on Monday.'

But I've heard it used in Tdol's sense.

b

 

[Tdol]

I was trying to adapt the IT meaning to the context.

 

[Barb_D]

It's a pretty common phrase in the US. It means time when you don't have any obligations or things you must do. After a stressful day at work, I'd like a little down time (maybe sitting on the couch just watching TV or surfing Facebook) before I start the evening routine of dinner preparations, homework supervision, etc.

 

[BobK]

...
Why does the author use the quotation mark" " plus real?

Thanks[/SIZE]

The quotation marks mark the fact that it's informal.

They use 'real' because they mean something more than just switching off for a day or two.

b