breathing space

noun

1. a short respite (Freq. 1)

• Syn: ↑breath, ↑breather, ↑breathing place, ↑breathing spell, ↑breathing time

• Derivationally related forms: ↑breathe (for: ↑breather)

• Hypernyms: ↑respite, ↑rest, ↑relief, ↑rest period

2. sufficient room for easy breathing or movement

-

moved to the country to find breathing room

• Syn: ↑breathing room

• Hypernyms: ↑room, ↑way, ↑elbow room

* * *

ˈbreathing space [breathing space] noun countable, uncountable

a short rest in the middle of a period of mental or physical effort

•

After finishing one job she needed a breathing space before starting the next.

 

Synonyms:

rest

break • respite • time out • breathing space

These are all words for a short period of time spent relaxing.

rest • a period of relaxing, sleeping or doing nothing after a period of activity:

▪ We stopped for a well-earned rest.

break • a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest or eat:

▪ Let's

▪ take a break

▪.

In British English break is a period of time between lessons at school. The North American English word is recess.

respite • a short break from sth difficult or unpleasant:

▪ The drug brought a brief respite from the pain.

time out • (informal, especially NAmE) time for resting or relaxing away from your usual work or studies:

▪ Take time out to relax by the pool.

breathing space • a short rest in the middle of a period of mental or physical effort:

▪ This delay gives the party a breathing space in which to sort out its policies.

(a) rest/break/respite/time out from sth

to have/take (a) rest/break/time out

to give sb (a) rest/break/respite/breathing space

 

Example Bank:

•

This delay gives the party a breathing space in which to sort out its policies.