hold one's breath

expression action

The phrase "hold one's breath" can be used both literally and figuratively, often signifying a pause in breathing or an anxious wait.

🇺🇸 US Voice:

🇬🇧 UK Voice:

Definition

A2General

(literal)To intentionally stop breathing for a brief period.

Example

She held her breath while swimming underwater.

B2General

(idiomatic, informal)To wait with anticipation, often implying doubt that the expected event will occur.

Example

Don't hold your breath waiting for him to call back.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "hold one's breath":

catch one's breath hold one's nose take a breath hold one's water hold one's piss with bated breath hold one's jaw hold one's pee hold one's fire hold in hold it in hold to hold with sit on one's hands hold it hold tight hold off breathe one's last hold the phone suck in hold back hold on hold down hold out hold it down