![under one's breath under one's breath](https://www.tekportal.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/under-ones-breath.jpg)
noun
- the air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.
- respiration, especially as necessary to life.
- life; vitality.
- the ability to breathe easily and normally: She stopped to regain her breath.
- time to breathe; pause or respite: Give him a little breath.
- a single inhalation or respiration: He took a deep breath.
- the brief time required for a single respiration; a moment or instant: They gave it to her and took it away all in a breath.
- a slight suggestion, hint, or whisper: The breath of slander never touched her.
- a light current of air.
- Phonetics.
- the air drawn into or expelled from the lungs to provide the generative source for most speech sounds.
- the audible expiration generating voiceless speech sounds, as (p), (k), (sh), etc.
- moisture emitted in respiration, especially when condensed and visible.
- a trivial circumstance; trifle.
- an odorous exhalation, or the air impregnated by it.
- Obsolete. exhalation or vapor.
Idioms
- below/under one’s breath, in a low voice or whisper; sotto voce: He protested under his breath because he was afraid to speak up.
- catch one’s breath, to pause or rest before continuing an activity or beginning a new one; resume regular breathing: Let me catch my breath before I begin anything new.
- in the same breath, at virtually the same time; almost simultaneously: She lost her temper and apologized in the same breath.
- out of breath, exhausted or gasping for breath, in consequence of an effort; breathless: After climbing to the top of the tower, we were so out of breath that we had to sit down.
- save one’s breath, to avoid futile talk or discussion: We were told to save our breath because the matter had already been decided.
- take away one’s breath, to make one as if breathless with astonishment; surprise; stun: The sheer beauty of the sea took away my breath.Also take one’s breath away.
noun
- the intake and expulsion of air during respiration
- the air inhaled or exhaled during respiration
- a single respiration or inhalation of air, etc
- the vapour, heat, or odour of exhaled airhis breath on the window melted the frost
- a slight gust of air
- a short pause or resttake a breath for five minutes
- a brief timeit was done in a breath
- a suggestion or slight evidence; suspiciona breath of scandal
- a whisper or soft sound
- life, energy, or vitalitythe breath of new industry
- phonetics the passage of air through the completely open glottis without vibration of the vocal cords, as in exhaling or pronouncing fricatives such as (f) or (h) or stops such as (p) or (k)Compare voice (def. 11)
- a breath of fresh air a refreshing change from what one is used to
- catch one’s breath to rest until breathing is normal, esp after exertion
- hold one’s breath to wait expectantly or anxiously
- in the same breath done or said at the same time
- out of breath gasping for air after exertion
- save one’s breath to refrain from useless talk
- take one’s breath away to overwhelm with surprise, etc
- under one’s breath or below one’s breath in a quiet voice or whisper
n.Old English bræð “odor, scent, stink, exhalation, vapor” (Old English word for “air exhaled from the lungs” was æðm), from Proto-Germanic *bræthaz “smell, exhalation” (cf. Old High German bradam, German Brodem “breath, steam”), from PIE root *gwhre- “to breathe, smell.” n.
- The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.
- A single respiration.
Softly, in an undertone or whisper, as in “I can’t stand one more minute of that music,” she muttered under her breath. This idiom, first recorded in 1832, is probably a hyperbole, alluding to a sound that is softer than breathing. In addition to the idiom beginning with breath
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