breath

Universal Words noun 1 [U] the air that you take into your lungs and send out again: His breath smelt of garlic. * bad breath (= that smells bad) * We had to stop for breath before we got to the top. * She was very short of breath (= had difficulty breathing). * While there is breath left in my body, I will refuse. 2 [C] an amount of air that enters the lungs at one time: to take a deep breath * He recited the whole poem in one breath. 3 ~ of sth [sing.] (formal) a small amount of sth; slight evidence of sth: a breath of suspicion / scandal 4 a ~ of air, wind [sing.] (literary) a slight movement of air IDIOMS a breath of (fresh) air clean air breathed in after being indoors or in a dirty atmosphere: We'll get a breath of fresh air at lunchtime. a breath of fresh air a person, thing or place that is new and different and therefore interesting and exciting the breath of life to / for sb (literary) an essential part of a person's existence: Playing the violin has been the breath of life to her for over 20 years. get your breath (again / back) (BrE) (also catch your breath AmE, BrE) to breathe normally again after running or doing some tiring exercise hold your breath 1 to stop breathing for a short time: Hold your breath and count to ten. 2 to be anxious while you are waiting for sth that you are worried about: He held his breath while the results were read out. 3 (informal) people say don't hold your breath! to emphasize that sth will take a long time or may not happen: She said she'd do it this week, but don't hold your breath! in the same breath immediately after saying sth that suggests the opposite intention or meaning: He praised my work and in the same breath told me I would have to leave. his / her last / dying breath the last moment of a person's life out of breath having difficulty breathing after exercise: We were out of breath after only five minutes. say sth, speak, etc. under your breath to say sth quietly so that people cannot hear: 'Rubbish!' he murmured under his breath. take sb's breath away to be very surprising or beautiful: My first view of the island from the air took my breath away. moreatBATED, CATCHv., DRAWv., SAVEv., WASTEv. \