day off—a day away from work, school, etc.:
- The bus-driver spends his “day off ” in driving on a pal’s bus, on the box-seat by his pal’s side.
Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase day out—
1. a day away from home when one is free from duty:
- Ollie just loves going to shows and he thoroughly enjoyed his day out.
2. a servant’s free day:
- When it is the maid’s day out, Jack insists on helping with the dishes.
off day—
1. a day when one does not feel fit or does not perform well:
- The bartender could have smiled a little but maybe it was his off day.
2. = day off 1:
- I could also change which day was my off day to line up with friends’ birthdays or other celebrations.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase far-off day—a day remote in time:
- On that far-off day I lay on the rocks and listened to the deep rhythm of the Atlantic.