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breath(noun)/breθ/ /breθ/- the air that you take into your lungs and send out again
- His breath smelt of garlic.
- bad breath (= that smells bad)
- She was very short of breath (= had difficulty breathing).
- Patients develop a cough and shortness of breath.
- There was a sharp intake of breath in the courtroom.
- We had to stop for breath before we got to the top.
- While there is breath left in my body, I will refuse.
Extra Examples- He came up out of the water gasping for breath.
- His breath came in short gasps.
- I could smell gin on her breath.
- I felt a bit short of breath and had to sit down.
- She could feel his warm breath against her cheek.
- She poured out her story, hardly pausing for breath.
- Smoking gives you bad breath.
- an amount of air that enters the lungs at one time
- Take a deep breath and try to relax.
- He recited the whole poem in one breath.
- He sucked in a deep breath.
Extra Examples- He let out a long breath.
- How can we trust a government that mentions community care and cutbacks in the same breath?
- I opened the window and took a deep breath.
- Take slow, calm breaths until you feel your heartbeat slowing down.
- a small amount of something; slight evidence of something
- a breath of suspicion/scandal
- a slight movement of air
- It was a still day, without a breath of wind.
- clean air breathed in after being indoors or in a dirty atmosphere
- We'll get a breath of fresh air at lunchtime.
- I'm going outside for a breath of fresh air.
- a person, thing or place that is new and different and therefore interesting and exciting
- The new secretary is a breath of fresh air.
- an essential part of a person’s existence
- Playing the violin has been the breath of life to her for over 20 years.
- to stop breathing for a moment because of fear, shock, etc.
- When he said he had resigned, I caught my breath in surprise.
- to start to be able to breathe normally again after running or doing exercise that makes you tired
- to stop doing something and rest
- She talks all the time and hardly stops to draw breath.
- He spoke solidly for twenty minutes, barely pausing to draw breath.
- to live; to be alive
- He was as kind a man as ever drew breath.
- to breathe normally again after running or doing exercise that makes you tired
- I needed a few minutes to get my breath back after the run.
- She paused to catch her breath.
- to stop breathing for a short time
- Hold your breath and count to ten.
- How long can you hold your breath for?
- to be nervous while you are waiting for something that you are anxious about
- He held his breath while the results were read out.
- people say don’t hold your breath! to emphasize that something will take a long time or may not happen
- She said she'd do it this week, but don't hold your breath!
- immediately after saying something that suggests the opposite intention or meaning
- He praised my work and in the same breath told me I would have to leave.
- the last moment of a person’s life
- having difficulty breathing after exercise
- We were out of breath after only five minutes.
- I'm a bit out of breath after my run.
- used to tell somebody that it is not worth wasting time and effort saying something because it will not change anything
- Save your breath—you'll never persuade her.
- It's useless talking to him—you may as well save your breath.
- to say something quietly so that people cannot hear
- ‘Rubbish!’ she muttered under her breath.
- He was whispering rude remarks about her under his breath.
- to be very surprising or beautiful
- My first view of the island from the air took my breath away.
- The sheer audacity of the man took my breath away.
- to say something that nobody takes any notice of
- You're just wasting your breath. She never listens.
- feeling very anxious or excited
- We waited with bated breath for the winner to be announced.
- We waited for the decision with bated breath.
Word Origin- Old English brǣth ‘smell, scent’, of Germanic origin; related to brood.
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