[Vocabulary] take a day off

[LiuJing]

I know if you are a worker and you don't go to work on a particular day, you can say 'I take today off' or 'I take a day off today'.

However, can a child without going to school say in the same way?
'I take a day off today.'

Thank you.

 

[Huda-M]

Im not sure, but I dont think so he can say. What I think is that 'take a day off' is used only when you skip a working day, or ask for a holiday (etc)

 

[acslater017]

"Taking a day off" or "taking the day off" is a phrase usually used by adults, in a work setting. If the child were speaking, I would find it a bit humorous if he said, "I don't feel well. I want to take the day off". I would assume that he heard his mother or father use that phrase and was trying to be like them

It would be less strange if his mother used that phrase. For example, "John isn't feeling well today, so he's taking the day off". It would be a cute way of describing the child staying home from "work".

I would use any of the following:
John stayed home sick yesterday.
John was home sick yesterday. (Do not confuse with "homesick", meaning to miss your home)