Does “Taking a Break” Ever Work?

I was talking with one of my best friends yesterday and I found out his relationship is officially "on a break".  They've been dating for a while, but I told him what I thought was true: those things never work.

In my last relationship, I fought against "taking a break" cause it doesn't seem like anything more than a hall pass to me, looking back I should have known that even suggesting one is enough of a red flag.  Sometimes the spark just dies.

Despite being on a break, my buddy has been taking her out on dates several times a week--she's just cut off any form of physical affection.   I think that defeats the purpose.

Have you ever been "on a break"?  Did it work for you?