english
1
general::
Phrase(s): breathe something (of something) (to someone)
to tell something to someone. (Usually in the negative.) • Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone! • I won’t breathe a word!
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
verb air/breath ADV. fast, quickly, rapidly | slowly | deeply | shallowly | hard, heavily They were both breathing hard from the steep climb. | gently | easily, steadily She was beginning to breathe more easily. | normally, properly I can't breathe properly?I'm gasping for air! | raggedly He was breathing raggedly, mouth open. | in, out She breathed slowly in and out. VERB + BREATHE can/can't, could/couldn't, could barely/hardly/scarcely | not dare He hardly dared breathe in case they heard him. PREP. through Always breathe through your nose. say quietly ADV. huskily, softly ‘I love you, ’ she breathed softly.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
3
general::
breathe
adverbs
breathe deeply
(= take long slow breaths of air )
• She breathed deeply in the cool night air.
breathe heavily/hard
(= breathe loudly especially after exercise )
• He’d been running and he was breathing hard.
breathe fast/rapidly
(= breathe quickly because of illness, fear etc )
• He closed his eyes, breathing fast under the fever.
breathe slowly
• Breathe slowly and try to relax.
breathe steadily/evenly
• The baby was fast asleep and breathing steadily.
breathe easily
• Make sure the injured person can breathe easily.
nouns
breathe some air/the air
• It was wonderful to be outside and breathe some fresh air.
breathe fumes
• These children are breathing traffic fumes all day long.
phrases
can hardly breathe
• It was so hot that I felt as though I could hardly breathe.
have trouble/difficulty breathing
• In high altitudes some people have trouble breathing.
struggle to breathe
• The crowd pressed in around me and I struggled to breathe.
transnet.ir
4
general::
verb
suck in air:
Breathe deep and slowly to relax.
Simple Definitions
5
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with BREATHE, Also see AS I LIVE AND BREATHE; BREATHING SPACE; NOT BREATHE A WORD.
American Heritage Idioms
6
general::
breathe
[ intransitive and transitive ] to take air into your lungs and send it out again:
• Mary knew he was asleep because he was breathing deeply. • He breathed the clear spring air.
sigh
to breathe out slowly and make a noise that shows you are disappointed, tired, relieved etc:
• She just sighed and shook her head. • ‘Never mind,’ he sighed. ‘I’m sure there’ll be other opportunities.’
pant
to breathe quickly and noisily through your mouth, because you have been using a lot of effort:
• They were panting by the time they got to the finish line.
gasp
to breathe very quickly and deeply and with difficulty:
• Her eyes were wide, and she was gasping for breath. • ‘Do you think you can walk?’ ‘I’ll try to,’ he gasped.
snore
to breathe noisily while you are sleeping:
• I couldn’t sleep because my husband was snoring.
wheeze
to breathe with difficulty, making a noise in your throat and chest, because you are ill:
• His asthma was making him wheeze.
be out of breath
to be unable to breathe easily, especially because you have been running or doing other exercise:
• I was out of breath by the time we reached the top of the hill.
be short of breath
to be unable to breathe easily, especially because you are unhealthy:
• Because she was so overweight, she was often short of breath.
Longman-Thesaurus