Cook taking breather? About right (5)
I believe the answer is:
grill
'cook' is the definition.
(grilling is a form of cooking)
'breather? about right' is the wordplay.
'breather?' becomes 'gill' (I've seen this in other clues).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'gill' going around 'r' is 'GRILL'.
'taking' is the link.
(Other definitions for grill that I've seen before include "quiz?" , "Cook under direct heat" , "Intensely question; dish" , "Seriously question" , "Question closely" .)