breath

breath [ breθ ] noun count or uncount ***

the air that goes in and out of your body through your nose or mouth:

He could feel her warm breath on his face.

His breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

a. the act of getting air into your lungs by breathing:

take a breath: She took a long slow breath to calm down.

a deep breath (=a breath that fills your lungs): Take a deep breath and dive into the water.

a shallow breath (=a breath in which you breathe only a small amount of air): quick shallow breaths

a breath of air/wind MAINLY LITERARY

a very small movement of the air

a breath of fresh air

1. ) INFORMAL someone or something that is new, interesting, and exciting

2. ) a short time that you spend outside:

I went outside for a breath of fresh air.

don't hold your breath SPOKEN

used for telling someone not to expect something to happen because it probably will not:

If you're waiting for him to apologize, don't hold your breath.

fighting/struggling for breath

almost unable to breathe:

He lay there in terrible pain, fighting for breath.

get your breath back

to have a short rest after doing something tiring, so that you can start breathing normally again

hold your breath

to breathe in and not let the air out again for some time:

Simon held his breath and dived under the water.

in the same breath

1. ) used for saying that someone has said two things that cannot both be true:

She says the treatment is safe, and then in the same breath says that patients should be warned about possible side-effects.

2. ) if you talk about two people or things in the same breath, you mention them together because they are similar:

I don't think you can mention his poetry in the same breath as that of Longfellow.

someone's last/final breath LITERARY

the moment when someone dies

out of breath

breathing fast and with difficulty, for example because you have been running:

She was out of breath from climbing the stairs.

save your breath or don't waste your breath SPOKEN

used for telling someone that they should not give advice to a person because that person will not listen

take your breath away

1. ) to be extremely impressive or beautiful:

It was one of those musical moments that can take your breath away.

2. ) to be extremely shocking

=> BREATHTAKING

under your breath

if you say something under your breath, you say it in a very quiet way so that it is difficult for people to hear

=> BAD BREATH, CATCH1