One-line definition
A time out (T.O.) is a mid-scene pause used to settle, check in, or renegotiate, without necessarily ending the scene.
Full definition
A time out works as a finer communication tool than a safeword. It lets participants step out of role, return to the real-world layer to confirm how things are going, and then decide whether to continue. Where a safeword tends to stop everything, a time out keeps the scene open while making room to adjust.
Related terms
- Safeword
- Negotiation
- Scene