What phrase appeared in McDonald's 1970s advertising campaign featuring the line about a break?

“You Deserve a Break Today” was the phrase used in McDonald's major 1970s advertising campaign about taking a break.

The slogan was introduced in 1971 and became one of the most famous lines in McDonald's advertising history. It positioned a visit to the restaurant as a small reward or pause in a busy day. Rather than focusing on one sandwich, the campaign promoted the broader experience of stopping at McDonald's.

The wording also helped the chain present itself as welcoming and accessible. It could work in television, radio, print, and in-store promotion while remaining understandable in a short message. The campaign's success made the phrase strongly associated with McDonald's even after later slogans replaced it.

The line is often shortened or misquoted as “Have You Had Your Break Today?” That wording resembles other McDonald's advertising language but is not the canonical slogan asked about here. “I'm Lovin' It,” launched worldwide in 2003, belongs to a much later phase of the company's branding.