breath
The air you take in or let out when you breathe.
The air that is taken into or expelled from the lungs during breathing.
A short stop to get air or rest.
A brief pause to breathe or recover, often during physical activity or speech.
A very small and soft movement of air.
A very light current of air.
A very small amount of something you can just notice.
A trace or hint of something, often barely noticeable.
- Base: breath
- Plural: breath, breaths
catch one's breath
1Pause to recover normal breathing
To stop for a short time so you can breathe normally again.
- He stopped to catch his breath after the sprint.
- Give me a moment to catch my breath before we start again.
hold one's breath
1Stop breathing for a short time on purpose
To not breathe for a short time on purpose, often while waiting or underwater.
- She held her breath as she went underwater.
- We held our breaths as we waited for the result.
out of breath
1Unable to breathe easily after activity
Not able to breathe easily because you have been running or doing hard work.
- She was out of breath after running up the stairs.
- I get out of breath easily when hiking.
take a deep breath
1Inhale deeply once
To breathe in fully and deeply one time, often before starting something difficult.
- Take a deep breath and try again.
- He took a deep breath before answering.
under one's breath
1Speak very quietly so others can't hear well
To speak so quietly that people near you cannot hear clearly.
- He muttered something under his breath.
- She swore under her breath when she saw the bill.