Breath.

All in a breath. Without taking breath. (Latin, continenti spiritu.)

It takes away one’s breath. The news is so astounding it causes one to hold his breath with surprise.

Out of breath. Panting from exertion; temporarily short of breath.

Save your breath to cool your porridge. Donʹt talk to me, it is only wasting your breath.

“You might have saved your breath to cool your porridge.”—Mrs. Gaskell: Libbie Marsh (Era 111).

To catch one’s breath. To check suddenly the free act of breathing.

“‘I see her,ʹ replied I, catching my breath with joy.”—Capt. Marryat: Peter Simple.

To hold one’s breath. Voluntarily to cease breathing for a time.

To take breath. To cease for a little time from some exertion in order to recover from exhaustion of breath.

Under one’s breath. In a whisper or undertone of voice.

· ·

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.