english
1
general::
breath
verbs
take a breath
(= breathe in )
• Alex took a deep breath, then jumped into the pool.
let your breath out
(= breathe out )
• Let your breath out slowly and relax.
hold your breath
(= not breathe out for a few seconds or minutes )
• How long can you hold your breath underwater?
be out of breath
(= have difficulty breathing after running, hurrying etc )
• Andrew hurried in, slightly out of breath.
be short of breath
(= be unable to breathe easily because you are ill, old etc )
• Near the top of the mountain I started to feel short of breath.
gasp/fight for breath
(= have difficulty breathing )
• He was lying on the floor gasping for breath.
get your breath back
( also catch your breath ) (= start breathing normally again )
• He leant against a tree until he had got his breath back.
pause for breath
• She talked solidly for five minutes, hardly pausing for breath.
draw breath
written (= breathe )
• I hid behind the door, hardly daring to draw breath.
adjectives
bad breath
(= that smells unpleasant )
• Smoking gives you bad breath.
a deep/long breath
(= in which you breathe a lot of air in slowly )
• She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
a shallow breath
(= in which you breathe a small amount of air in )
• Shallow breaths are often a sign of nervousness.
phrases
shortness of breath
(= when you are unable to breathe easily )
• Symptoms include dizziness and shortness of breath.
an intake of breath
(= when you breathe in very quickly and suddenly, especially because you are surprised )
• He gave a sharp intake of breath. • His first response was a sharp intake of breath.
transnet.ir
2
general::
noun ADJ. big, deep, long, slow | quick, shallow, short | bad Smoking gives you bad breath. VERB + BREATH draw (in), suck in, take He spoke solidly for twenty minutes, barely pausing to draw breath. Take a deep breath and try to relax. | let out He let out a long breath. | hold How long can you hold your breath for? | get back I needed a few minutes to get my breath back after the run. | catch When he said he had resigned, I caught my breath in surprise. | gasp for He came up out of the water gasping for breath. | pause for She poured out her story, hardly pausing for breath. | save (figurative) It's useless talking to him?you may as well save your breath. | waste (figurative) Don't waste your breath. He never listens to advice. BREATH + VERB come in gasps/pants/puffs His breath came in short gasps. PREP. on sb's ~ I could smell gin on her breath. | out of ~ I'm a bit out of breath after my run. | under your ~ He was whispering rude remarks about her under his breath. | ~ of It was a still day, without a breath of wind. PHRASES a breath of fresh air I'm going outside for a breath of fresh air. | an intake of breath When the news was announced, there was a sharp intake of breath. | in the same breath How can we trust a government that mentions community care and cutbacks in the same breath? | short of breath I felt a bit short of breath and had to sit down. | take sb's breath away (figurative) The sheer audacity of the man took my breath away.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
3
general::
In addition to the idiom beginning with BREATH, Also see CATCH ONE'S BREATH; HOLD ONE'S BREATH; IN THE SAME BREATH; OUT OF BREATH; SAVE ONE'S BREATH; TAKE ONE'S BREATH AWAY; UNDER ONE'S BREATH; WASTE ONE'S BREATH; WITH BATED BREATH.
American Heritage Idioms
4
general::
noun
intake of air:
He took a breath of clean air.
Simple Definitions