List of body parts idioms breathe / breath and their meanings

How the idioms are listed

There are 3 parts to each idioms the first part is what the idiom is, then an explanation of what it means and the last part is an example of how to use it in a sentence.

How do I use the list of human body parts idioms A to Z?

To use the list of idioms click on each letter of the alphabet to get the list of the human body parts idioms for that letter.

[ A ] [ B ] [ C ] [ D ] [ E ] [ F ] [ G ] [ H ] [ I ] [ J ] [ K ] [ L ] [ M ] [ N ] [ O ] [ P ] [ Q ] [ R ] [ S ] [ T ] [ U ] [ V ] [ W ] [ X ] [ Y ] [ Z ]

Click on the links below to view

• Body parts idioms about the throat
• Body parts idioms about bones
• Body parts idioms about sweat
• Body parts idioms about blood
• Body parts idioms about the stomach
• Body parts idioms about the heart
• Body parts idioms about the neck
• Body parts idioms about shoulders
• Body parts idioms about the breathe / breath
• Body parts idioms about the backs

These links are not on the A to z of idioms only on the common animals idioms

Human body parts idioms about breathe and breath

able to breathe easily again

- to be able to relax after a busy and stressful time

I was able to breathe easily again when I knew that I would not miss my flight.

able to breathe freely again

- to be able to relax after a busy and stressful time

I was able to breathe freely again when the exams were over.

at the top of one`s lungs

- with a very loud voice

I yelled at the top of my lungs to get the man's attention.

a breath of fresh air

- new ideas or new energy or new ways of doing something

The new manager is a breath of fresh air in our company.

not breathe a word (about someone or something)

- to keep a secret about someone or something

"Please don't breathe a word about my new job to my supervisor."

breathe down (someone`s) neck

- to watch someone closely (often by standing right behind them), to pressure someone to do something

My boss has been breathing down my neck all day to pressure me to finish the report.

breathe easy/easier

- to relax after a busy and stressful time

I could breathe easy after I finished my essay and gave it to my teacher.

breathe one's last

- to die, to breathe one's last breath before dying

The elderly man breathed his last late yesterday evening.

catch one's breath

- to return to normal breathing after breathing very hard

I stopped at the top of the stairs to catch my breath.

Don't hold your breath.

- Don't stop breathing to wait for something (because it will never happen).

"Don't hold your breath," I said when my friend asked when he would be able to borrow our friend's car.

hardly have time to breathe

- to be very busy

I hardly had time to breathe while I was preparing for the barbecue.

hold one`s breath

- to stop breathing for a moment, to stop doing something and wait until something happens

I held my breath and waited to see if my name had been called for an interview with the movie company.

huff and puff

- to breathe very hard

I was huffing and puffing when I reached the top of the stairs.

in one breath

- spoken rapidly without stopping to breathe

I told my friend in one breath what happened at the party.

in the same breath

- almost at the same time

My friend was complaining about her teacher but in the same breath she said that she will continue with the class.

out of breath

- breathing fast and hard

I was out of breath after I ran to catch the train.

save one`s breath

- to keep silent because talking will do no good

"You can save your breath and not bother talking to him. He never listens to anyone."

say (something) under one's breath

- to say something so softly that nobody can hear it

The clerk in the store said something under her breath about the customer.

take (someone's) breath away

- to overwhelm someone with beauty or grandeur, to cause someone to be out of breath

The beauty of the mountain lake took my breath away.

time to catch one's breath

- enough time to relax or behave normally

I did not have time to catch my breath while I was getting ready for the convention.

wait with bated breath

- to wait anxiously for something

I waited with bated breath for the results of my exams.

waste one's breath

- to waste one's time talking, to talk in vain

I am wasting my breath to ask my parents to use the car this weekend.

with every (other) breath

- repeatedly or continually saying something

My friend tells me with every other breath that she does not like my boyfriend.

Lessons that are related to the exercise

To view any of the lessons below click on link.

Idioms human body English lesson

A to Z Idioms - list English phrases

Small List of idioms A - Z English phrases

Dictionary and how to use dictionaries

Click on the following link for the Online English dictionary - English lesson