Nick needing a break, we're told (6)
I believe the answer is:
arrest
'nick' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'a break we're told' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' is present in the answer.
'break' could be 'rest' (a rest is taking a break) and 'rest' is present in the answer.
A single letter 'r' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'needing' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for arrest that I've seen before include "Nab" , "Stop (on suspicion)" , "Sartre (anag) -- check" , "Seize and take into custody" , "Run in" .)