IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishwith bated breath
Meaning: Hardly breathing at all because of fear, excitement, or other strong emotion.
Example: “The whole village waited with bated breath for the lottery results.”
Origin: Bated is a shortened form of abated, which means to lessen or put on hold. The first recorded use of bated is in 1596 in Shakespeare's play Merchant of Venice: "With bated breath, and whisp'ring humblenesse." The expression is used in situations in which someone is waiting tensely for something to happen.
More English idioms
- when hell freezes over Never.
- beat the bushes To search exhaustively.
- between the devil and the deep blue sea Facing two difficult outcomes for the same situation.
- down to earth Practical and rational; unpretentious.
- fair-weather friend A person who is loyal in good times but not when times are difficult.
- field day A wild and uncontrolled time; a time of especially pleasant or exciting action.
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