breath

Phrases

a breath of fresh air

a small amount of or a brief time in the fresh air.

a refreshing change:the company’s no-nonsense attitude is a breath of fresh air

the breath of life

a thing that someone needs or depends on:politics has been the breath of life to her for 50 years

catch one's breath

• 1cease breathing momentarily in surprise or fear.

• 2rest after exercise to restore normal breathing:she stood for a few moments, catching her breath

don't hold your breath

informal used hyperbolically to indicate that something is likely to take a long time:don’t hold your breath waiting for Congress to clean up political action committees

draw breath

breathe in.

get one's breath (back)

begin to breathe normally again after exercise or exertion.

hold one's breath

cease breathing temporarily.

be in a state of suspense or anticipation:France held its breath while the Senate chose its new president

in the same (or next) breath

at the same time:he congratulated Simon on his victory but in the same breath dismissed it

last breath

the last moment of one’s life (often used hyperbolically); death:she would fight to the last breath to preserve her good name

out of breath

gasping for air, typically after exercise:he arrived on the top floor out of breath

save one's breath

stop wasting time in futile talk:save your breath; I know all about it

take someone's breath away

astonish or inspire someone with awed respect or delight.

under (or below) one's breath

in a very quiet voice; almost inaudibly:he swore violently under his breathCompare with sotto voce.

waste one's breath

talk or give advice without effect:I have better things to do than waste my breath arguing