breath
noun /breθ/
/breθ/
Idioms - [uncountable] the air that you take into your lungs and send out again
- His breath smelt of garlic.
- bad breath (= that smells bad)
- She was very short of breath (= had difficulty breathing).
- Patients develop a cough and shortness of breath.
- There was a sharp intake of breath in the courtroom.
- We had to stop for breath before we got to the top.
- While there is breath left in my body, I will refuse.
Extra Examples- He came up out of the water gasping for breath.
- His breath came in short gasps.
- I could smell gin on her breath.
- I felt a bit short of breath and had to sit down.
- She could feel his warm breath against her cheek.
- She poured out her story, hardly pausing for breath.
- Smoking gives you bad breath.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- deep
- heavy
- …
- draw
- draw in
- inhale
- …
- come in gasps, pants, puffs, etc.
- on somebody’s breath
- out of breath
- under your breath
- …
- a breath of fresh air
- an intake of breath
- in the same breath
- …
- [countable] an amount of air that enters the lungs at one time
- Take a deep breath and try to relax.
- He recited the whole poem in one breath.
- He sucked in a deep breath.
Extra Examples- He let out a long breath.
- How can we trust a government that mentions community care and cutbacks in the same breath?
- I opened the window and took a deep breath.
- Take slow, calm breaths until you feel your heartbeat slowing down.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- deep
- heavy
- …
- draw
- draw in
- inhale
- …
- come in gasps, pants, puffs, etc.
- on somebody’s breath
- out of breath
- under your breath
- …
- a breath of fresh air
- an intake of breath
- in the same breath
- …
- [singular] breath of something (formal) a small amount of something; slight evidence of something
- a breath of suspicion/scandal
- [singular] a breath of air/wind (literary) a slight movement of air
- It was a still day, without a breath of wind.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- deep
- heavy
- …
- draw
- draw in
- inhale
- …
- come in gasps, pants, puffs, etc.
- on somebody’s breath
- out of breath
- under your breath
- …
- a breath of fresh air
- an intake of breath
- in the same breath
- …
Word OriginOld English brǣth ‘smell, scent’, of Germanic origin; related to brood.
Idioms
a breath of (fresh) air
- clean air breathed in after being indoors or in a dirty atmosphere
- We'll get a breath of fresh air at lunchtime.
- I'm going outside for a breath of fresh air.
a breath of fresh air
- a person, thing or place that is new and different and therefore interesting and exciting
- The new secretary is a breath of fresh air.
the breath of life to/for somebody
- (literary) an essential part of a person’s existence
- Playing the violin has been the breath of life to her for over 20 years.
catch your breath
- to stop breathing for a moment because of fear, shock, etc.
- When he said he had resigned, I caught my breath in surprise.
- (also get your breath (again/back) British English)to start to be able to breathe normally again after running or doing exercise that makes you tired
draw breath (British English)
(US English draw a breath)
- to stop doing something and rest
- She talks all the time and hardly stops to draw breath.
- He spoke solidly for twenty minutes, barely pausing to draw breath.
- (literary) to live; to be alive
- He was as kind a man as ever drew breath.
get your breath (again/back) (British English)
(also catch your breath North American English, British English)
- to breathe normally again after running or doing exercise that makes you tired
- I needed a few minutes to get my breath back after the run.
- She paused to catch her breath.
hold your breath
- to stop breathing for a short time
- Hold your breath and count to ten.
- How long can you hold your breath for?
- to be nervous while you are waiting for something that you are anxious about
- He held his breath while the results were read out.
- (informal) people say don’t hold your breath! to emphasize that something will take a long time or may not happen
- She said she'd do it this week, but don't hold your breath!
in the same breath
- immediately after saying something that suggests the opposite intention or meaning
- He praised my work and in the same breath told me I would have to leave.
his/her last/dying breath
- the last moment of a person’s life
out of breath
- having difficulty breathing after exercise
- We were out of breath after only five minutes.
- I'm a bit out of breath after my run.
save your breath
- (informal) used to tell somebody that it is not worth wasting time and effort saying something because it will not change anything
- Save your breath—you'll never persuade her.
- It's useless talking to him—you may as well save your breath.
say something, speak, mutter, etc. under your breath
- to say something quietly so that people cannot hear
- ‘Rubbish!’ she muttered under her breath.
- He was whispering rude remarks about her under his breath.
take somebody’s breath away
- to be very surprising or beautiful
- My first view of the island from the air took my breath away.
- The sheer audacity of the man took my breath away.
waste your breath
- to say something that nobody takes any notice of
- You're just wasting your breath. She never listens.
with bated breath
- (formal) feeling very anxious or excited
- We waited with bated breath for the winner to be announced.
- We waited for the decision with bated breath.