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Phrase(s): take someone’s breath away
1. Lit. to cause someone to be out of breath due to a shock or hard exercise. • Running this fast takes my breath away. • Mary frightened me and took my breath away. 2. Fig. to overwhelm someone with beauty or grandeur; to surprise or astound someone. • The magnificent painting took my breath away. • Ann looked so beautiful that she took my breath away.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs