Is it a common phrase in its own right, as it is here in the UK? Maybe it’s regional; my partner, from Chicago, didn’t recognise it, though she got the literal gist.
(ADDED) Actually I see some dictionaries list it (also e.g. ‘well-earned rest’) as a US phrase as well as UK:
Though from googling places it’s used, I get the impression it’s mostly British.
I think it has a nice, cozy emotion to it—like awarding yourself a prize each time you take a break (even after 3 minutes’ work!) I find it hard to say ‘well-earned break’ without smiling!
Is it a common phrase in its own right, as it is here in the UK? Maybe it’s regional; my partner, from Chicago, didn’t recognise it, though she got the literal gist.
(ADDED) Actually I see some dictionaries list it (also e.g. ‘well-earned rest’) as a US phrase as well as UK:
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/well-earned
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/well-earned
Though from googling places it’s used, I get the impression it’s mostly British.
I think it has a nice, cozy emotion to it—like awarding yourself a prize each time you take a break (even after 3 minutes’ work!) I find it hard to say ‘well-earned break’ without smiling!
“Well-earned rest” is the standard idiom.
I’m on the East coast, and “well-earned” is definitely in the lexicon.