hold one's breath

hold one's breath
phrasal
1. : to cease breathing momentarily (as from fear)
2. : to be in extreme suspense

held her breath all during the examination for fear the child would not pass

* * *

hold one's breath
1. To refrain from breathing temporarily
2. To wait in anxious expectation
• • •
Main Entry:breath

* * *

I
cease breathing temporarily
figurative be in a state of suspense or anticipation

France held its breath while the Senate chose its new president

II
see breath

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • hold one's breath — {v. phr.} 1. To stop breathing for a moment when you are excited or nervous. * /The race was so close that everyone was holding his breath at the finish./ 2. To endure great nervousness, anxiety, or excitement. * /John held his breath for days… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hold one's breath — {v. phr.} 1. To stop breathing for a moment when you are excited or nervous. * /The race was so close that everyone was holding his breath at the finish./ 2. To endure great nervousness, anxiety, or excitement. * /John held his breath for days… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hold one's breath — ► hold one s breath cease breathing temporarily. Main Entry: ↑breath …   English terms dictionary

  • hold one's breath — stop breathing for a moment when one is excited or nervous I had to stop and hold my breath while I was waiting for the announcement of the winning names …   Idioms and examples

  • hold\ one's\ breath — v. phr. 1. To stop breathing for a moment when you are excited or nervous. The race was so close that everyone was holding his breath at the finish. 2. To endure great nervousness, anxiety, or excitement. John held his breath for days before he… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • hold one's breath — cease breathing temporarily. → breath …   English new terms dictionary

  • hold one's breath — phrasal 1. to prevent oneself from breathing temporarily 2. to wait in anxious anticipation …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hold one's breath — verb To wait, as if breathlessly …   Wiktionary

  • hold one's breath — be excited; be anxious; be nervous …   English contemporary dictionary

  • catch one's breath — breath, stop for a breath; stop one s breath, hold one s breath …   English contemporary dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”