Ask for Leave: Meaning, Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：request time off from work or school (Ask for leave)

Ask for leave 🔊

/ˈæsk fɔːr liːv/

v.phr.

To formally tell your boss or teacher that you won't be at work or school and need their permission.

Employee asking manager for leave with calendar

request time off from work or school 🔊

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/rɪˈkwest taɪm ɒf frəm wɜːrk ɔːr skuːl/

v.phr.

To formally ask for permission to be absent from your workplace or educational institution for a specific period.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Ask (from Old English 'ascian' meaning to inquire) + leave (from Old English 'læfan' meaning permission to remain behind).

💡 Mnemonic

Picture yourself asking your boss for a leaf (leave) from the tree of work to take a break.

📖 Example

She needed to ask for leave from work to attend her daughter's school play. 🔊 She needed to request permission to be absent from work in order to attend her daughter's school play.

🔗 Collocations

ask for sick leave – request time off due to illness

ask for annual leave – request vacation time

ask for personal leave – request time off for personal reasons

🔄 Synonyms

request leave (v.phr.) – To formally ask for permission to be absent.

take leave (v.phr.) – To be absent from work or duty with permission.

apply for leave (v.phr.) – To submit a formal request for time off.

🚫 Antonyms

report for duty (v.phr.) – To be present at work as required.

show up (v.phr.) – To attend work or school.

clock in (v.) – To record one's arrival at work.

📖 Cultural Story

Commonly used in workplace and academic settings since the 19th century to formally request time off. The word 'leave' comes from Old English 'læfan,' meaning to allow someone to remain behind.