We can say, for example, “I have a day off”, or “I am taking a day off”, or “I need a day off”. Sometimes we say what we are having a day off from – for example “a day off school” or “a day off work”. But often we just say ” a day off”, because the person we are talking to knows from the context whether the day off is a day off from work, or from school, or from looking after our children, or whatever. Here are some more examples.

　　Today, May 1, is a public holiday in England. My children have the day off school. My wife does not have to go to work either. She has the day off.

　　Joanne has a painful tooth. She makes an appointment with the dentist. But the dentist can only see her in the afternoon, not in the evening after Joanne has finished work. So Joanne asks her boss for some time off to go to the dentist. Her boss agrees – Joanne can have the afternoon off.

　　In the summer, Joanne and Kevin want to travel to Italy. They have both arranged to have two weeks off so that they can go.

　　Now they need to book their holiday. Kevin gets an hour off for lunch, so he goes to the travel agent to buy the tickets.

　　Because we are talking about holidays and because it is a holiday today, I think we need some music. Here are the Brobdingnagian Bards with Maids in the Meadow.