noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a breath of air
▪ I went outside for a breath of air.
a breath test (=to find out if someone has drunk alcohol)
▪ Some people think the police should be able to carry out random breath tests.
breath test
deep breath
▪ She stopped and took a deep breath.
gasp for air/breath
▪ Brendan climbed slowly, gasping for breath.
muttered under...breath
▪ ‘He’s such an unpleasant man,’ Alyssia muttered under her breath.
panting for breath
▪ He was panting for breath.
pause for breath
▪ She had to pause for breath after every two or three steps.
puffing for breath
▪ He caught up with Gary, puffing for breath.
wait with bated breath (=while feeling very anxious or excited)
▪ She waited with bated breath to see what he would say.
waited...with bated breath
▪ He waited for a reply to his offer with bated breath.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADJECTIVE
bad
▪ Bill Muggeridge opened his mouth to say something, but happily only bad breath came out.
▪ The mouth of the face had bad breath.
▪ Warning: Moderate consumption of this product is likely to cause pronounced belching and bad breath.
▪ Despite suggestions that he should bathe every day, he still suffers from smelly feet and bad breath.
▪ Warning: Eaten in sufficient amounts, this product ensures bad breath, probable indigestion and pungent, loose stools.
▪ Why didn't they tell us which EastEnder had such bad breath her screen husband couldn't bear kissing her?
▪ Kids talk candidly and loudly about their Santa experience, and are quick to point out body odor and bad breath.
bated
▪ From July onwards the town of Whaddon had waited with bated breath.
▪ Neither Bradford nor Birmingham regrets entering the tourist trade - the industry waits with bated breath to see how Swindon fares.
▪ I was waiting with bated breath for him to say something, anything, that wasn't a cliche.
▪ So now I wait with bated breath.
deep
▪ She took a deep breath and rang the bell at the parson's house.
▪ I stuck my head out of the window and took deep breaths of the fragrant air.
▪ She took a deep breath, then walked reluctantly to the massive door and rang the bell.
▪ When my turn comes I take a deep breath and plunge in.
▪ When he heard the deep intake of breath, Joe related.
▪ I shut my eyes, extend my arms to their fullest, and take a deep breath.
▪ Blood matted the blond hair, and Lindsey took a deep breath as she leaned closer to peer at the wound.
hot
▪ Cardiff could feel hot breath on his leg, and knew that the Peters thing wanted to bite him.
▪ She cupped the raw winter air in her hands and blew hot breath into her palms.
▪ I n the United States the hot breath of corruption is misting up the mirror of democratic politics.
▪ He could almost feel hot, fetid breath warming his skin.
▪ The first whispering breeze came like a hot breath and Wexford closed his windows.
▪ His patchy mongrel pants like an iris where shamrock fans forget to blur. Hot breath of August.
indrawn
▪ She heard the indrawn breath hiss sharply through his teeth, and felt the wave of emotion that washed over him.
▪ There was a brief silence like an indrawn breath.
▪ She couldn't prevent her tiny indrawn breath.
▪ From somewhere in the darkness, Sophie made little, stricken noises, all on an indrawn breath.
▪ He could hear her sharply indrawn breath, the effort it took not to comment.
▪ She started, her indrawn breath a soft hiss.
▪ Each indrawn breath was a little throaty snore.
▪ Her head shot round, her shocked gasp mingling with the audible hiss of sharply indrawn breath.
long
▪ Rostov drew a long shuddering breath.
▪ Joe exhales a long breath and sneaks another look at the clock: 1: 58.
▪ The T'ang gave a gentle laugh, delighted, and took a long, deep breath.
▪ He took in a long breath, held it and squeezed the handle of the cutters.
▪ Feeling it should be Michele who recovered it, Luce drew a long, steadying breath and turned to climb down.
▪ As soon as the train started, I drew a long breath of relief.
▪ So innocent a scent, and yet ... Shivering, he took a long, slow breath of her.
sharp
▪ Suddenly, remembering Shaaban's fear - and the man had courage enough - Claudel drew a sharp breath.
▪ There was a sharp intake of breath.
▪ She heard him take a quick, sharp breath.
▪ Then, with a sharp hiss of breath, he brought the sword down sharply.
▪ I force her skinny little arms into the position I need and ignore the sharp intake of breath.
▪ He drew in a sharp breath, his stooped shoulders almost straightening.
▪ Crystal iced spires in twinkling reflection, Sharp intake of breath at such perfection.
▪ There was a sharp intake of breath behind him, and there she stood in the doorway looking at him.
short
▪ She went low again, behind Siang, taking a short breath before turning and kicking upward.
▪ Half-dressed and short of breath, they lay side by side resentful of one another and the skylight above them.
▪ He is not a large man, but portly now and rather short of breath.
▪ He fairly sprinted up the stairs, and scarcely paused at the top although clearly short of breath.
▪ She was also short of breath, and her whole face was beginning to swell.
▪ As adults our abdomens get tightened up from stress, and we get used to taking very short, shallow breaths.
▪ The stench of damp that enveloped her was noxious; she tried to take short breaths.
▪ It took away my breath until I took little, short breaths like gasps.
warm
▪ She tensed; very softy he blew into her ear, until she quivered as his warm breath passed through her.
▪ I am more likely to sense their warm breath than their lips.
▪ And answer: warm flutter of breath.
▪ That his warm breath on her face churned up her insides to such an extent that she was forced to lie rigid?
▪ Paul D blew warm breath into the hollow of his cupped hands.
▪ She felt the warm breath from his wild beast's mouth softly, against her cheek.
▪ I stroked his lovely velvety pelt and smelt his warm meaty breath.
■ NOUN
back
▪ Suddenly he noticed how pale I was, and stopped for a moment to let me get my breath back.
▪ Grabbing at the Zodiac's tow line, he held himself against the river for a moment, getting his breath back.
▪ She claimed she must get her breath back.
▪ Just the place to get your breath back.
▪ When he got his breath back she kissed him.
▪ The buoy shielded her from the view of the guards, and she used that advantage to get her breath back.
▪ I locked the shed again and jogged as far as the bridge while I got my breath back.
▪ I am starting to puff a bit now so I stop behind a Ford Capri and try to get my breath back.
test
▪ Instead he admitted lesser motoring offences including drink-driving, failing to give a breath test and not stopping after an accident.
▪ Police stopped Kelly, of Chelmsford, and a breath test showed him to be more than twice the legal alcohol limit.
▪ Pritchard failed a roadside breath test which recorded 151 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
▪ Mr Warren was arrested in Mayfair, London, in May 1990 after a roadside breath test proved positive.
▪ In healthy volunteers, H pylori state was determined by the C urea breath test.
▪ Police kept her locked up in a cell until she gave a negative breath test and was deemed fit to leave.
▪ Police said the driver, who lives nearby with his grandmother, had failed a roadside breath test.
▪ One month after completing this treatment, the C-urea breath test was repeated to assess eradication of the infection.
■ VERB
breathe
▪ Houses white as virgins breathed their stony breaths and expanded their bellies until every polished name-plaque turned to the sun and shone.
▪ After a few seconds, he heard them breathing - one breath long and light, the other slightly shorter and huskier.
▪ The company breathed out with one breath, and crossed themselves.
catch
▪ It made her catch her breath.
▪ Then I began to catch my breath a little bit.
▪ She could hear Moxie catching her breath.
▪ I caught my breath, releasing the lock.
▪ Crooking a finger, she tapped experimentally, and caught her breath.
▪ It took 10 minutes to catch my breath.
▪ Polly caught her breath, instinctively jerking backwards away from him.
▪ Holliday said he rushed outdoors to check out downtown's fragile, historic buildings after he caught his breath.
draw
▪ He persevered silently while the music played, and drew a deep breath when it ended.
▪ Miss Sadie drew a deep breath.
▪ Bella drew her breath in sharply, almost beside herself with rage.
▪ Loucks drew a breath, still peering at me, wondering perhaps how good a student I might be.
▪ She drew a deep breath, then went out to keep her appointment.
▪ Caroline took the chance to draw some calming deep breaths, get her scattered emotions under control.
▪ But it was Mary whose bold appearance drew the breath and the admiration of all of them.
▪ Abruptly, she drew in her breath.
feel
▪ Holding her tightly, he could feel her breath coming quicker from her fear.
▪ Ezra could feel the breath of the girl behind him.
▪ I felt their breaths at the window.-And the rivers too come down from the hills.
▪ I felt her breath and almost closed my hand, it tickled so.
▪ Cardiff could feel hot breath on his leg, and knew that the Peters thing wanted to bite him.
▪ Sometimes, at the intersections, she comes so close that I can feel her breath on the back of my neck.
fight
▪ I will fight to my last breath.
▪ I wad tired of fighting for breath.
▪ The illness causes the sufferer to fight for every breath when they're having an attack.
▪ His face was set in a painful rictus, his chest heaving as he fought for breath.
▪ Half way up she paused, fighting for breath, suddenly struck by the enormity of what she was doing.
▪ Agnes leaned against the castle wall, which was streaming with water, and fought for breath.
▪ None of the usual muck one finds in the lungs when a man's fighting for his breath.
▪ Theda held her while she fought for breath, taking in great gasps of air.
gasp
▪ Sobbing, gasping for breath, she began to crawl across the floor.
▪ They gasped for breath, struggled against debilitating weakness, and when the blood vessels around their brains ruptured, they died.
▪ Yet even as the boy fell back, gasping for breath, that strange transformation overcame him again.
▪ I will be gasping for breath 24 hours a day.
▪ Katze dashed on to the bridge of the Raubvogel, gasping for breath.
▪ We gasped for breath and fought off the pain, desperate not to lose.
▪ The knowledge left her shaken, gasping for breath.
▪ I pulled up at the bottom of the course, leaned on my poles and gasped for breath.
hear
▪ She could hear Moxie catching her breath.
▪ Next to her right ear she could hear his breath, a shallow snuffle.
▪ Presently, he heard the breath whistle in her throat, a gasp, a tiny groan.
▪ He could hear her sharply indrawn breath, the effort it took not to comment.
▪ When I could hear his panting breath as well as the heavy feet I knew I'd let him get too close.
▪ She heard their hissing breaths, and the hard, sharp noise of their hooves on the polished floorboards.
▪ There was a note of urgency in his tone and she could hear his breath.
hold
▪ She crouched down, holding her breath, and peered in the direction of the sound.
▪ I can hold my breath longer than any of my upgrades have lasted.
▪ I stopped to listen, holding my breath.
▪ His mouth gaped as he held his breath.
▪ As the others crossed their fingers and held their breath, he gently eased away the back plate.
▪ We held our breaths, covering our nostrils and mouths with our hands.
▪ She held her breath as their lips met, but this one was gentle and affectionate, like a brother and sister.
let
▪ Suddenly he noticed how pale I was, and stopped for a moment to let me get my breath back.
▪ He let out his breath, and sat down on the stool by the telephone.
▪ She finished taping him up and let him catch his breath while she reloaded the gun.
▪ They could let their breaths out now.
▪ It was like letting your breath out slowly, it took him far away from himself.
▪ Mitchell let out his breath and stood up, worried about what would happen next.
▪ He let out a long-held breath.
▪ Rather let the breath of new life be breathed by you through the forms already existing.
mutter
▪ Greatly relieved, he muttered under his breath and crossed himself several times.
▪ He muttered something beneath his breath about the blessings of the blind.
▪ She was darting back and forth across the clutter on the floor, tweaking cords and muttering beneath her breath.
▪ Sheridan muttered under his breath several times, making the people he was sitting with uncomfortable.
▪ He was ill-washed and stubble-chinned and he muttered beneath his breath.
▪ But the Tarvarian only muttered something under his breath, and spat left and right.
pause
▪ She paused for breath and found her hand on the grey standing stone.
▪ He stops, pausing for breath.
▪ At the top of the cliff we paused to catch our breath and look around.
▪ They would pause for breath, swear, and then come together again, their fists up, moving in.
▪ We clung together, breathless, until we had to pause for breath.
▪ Then, without pausing for breath or breaking her stride, she pushed open the door of his private office.
save
▪ You can save your breath, Fiver.
▪ Your cheeks bulge with your last saved breath.
▪ She might as well have saved her breath.
▪ He might as well have saved his breath - a sea of green benches confronted the Ulster members.
stop
▪ Dorcas hurried back and climbed, with a lot of stopping for breath, up to the plank.
▪ Mrs Stillman stopped to catch her breath.
▪ When he was climbing the far side of the valley, he stopped for breath, and something made him turn round.
▪ He stops, pausing for breath.
▪ He could see Georgiades stop to catch his breath.
▪ What was it that could stop my breath, my heart, and be the last part of me to die?
▪ They hurt brutally, stopping every breath from being drawn.
▪ The watches were stopped and everyone held breath as the timekeepers turned for consultation with the track referee.
suck
▪ I sucked on breath mints, rubbed deodorant under my arms and on my feet.
▪ Chesarynth sucked in another breath of the sweet, tangy air and melted into the crowd, shuffling inside with the rest.
▪ As he sucked in his breath, the hand covering her mouth fell.
▪ Bernice sucked in a deep breath, searching for a tell-tale smell - and there it was!
▪ The waiting crowd of marchers groaned and sucked in their breath in sympathetic pain at every blow.
▪ He sucked in a deep breath.
take
▪ Once escaped, she took a few deep breaths.
▪ Then I took my deep breath and went down.
▪ Maidstone paused and took a deep breath.
▪ How, one marveled, can any trumpeter deliver so much music and take so few breaths?
▪ Some of it was charmingly primitive, some of it so exotically painted it took your breath away.
▪ The men blinked as the door slammed; then a few cleared their throats guiltily and dared take a breath.
▪ She takes a deep breath, but doesn't use it.
▪ I went up to the bed, took a deep breath, and turned the covering back.
turn
▪ She went low again, behind Siang, taking a short breath before turning and kicking upward.
▪ I went up to the bed, took a deep breath, and turned the covering back.
▪ Then, almost in the same breath, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room without another word.
▪ Cursing Paul under her breath Erika turned.
wait
▪ From July onwards the town of Whaddon had waited with bated breath.
▪ Neither Bradford nor Birmingham regrets entering the tourist trade - the industry waits with bated breath to see how Swindon fares.
▪ I waited to get my breath before cutting across the road.
▪ I was waiting with bated breath for him to say something, anything, that wasn't a cliche.
▪ He didn't even wait to catch his breath.
▪ The valley seemed to be waiting, holding its breath in anticipation of some terrible event.
▪ It could be felt that some one within the house was waiting with held breath and beating heart.
▪ So now I wait with bated breath.
waste
▪ You know it and so do I. So don't waste your breath!
▪ Was there any point in even wasting her breath trying to convince him?
▪ Besides, something told her she'd be wasting her breath.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
be short of breath
▪ He sleeps badly and is short of breath on exertion.
breathe your last (breath)
▪ Five hours more and she'd breathe her last and never know them.
▪ In the blue light of the morning he breathed his last.
▪ Large-scale, publicly-owned enterprises will breathe their last gasp and wither away well before the state which spawned them.
▪ Millions who were dangerously ill or breathing their last.
▪ The moment Carey was confident that Elizabeth had breathed her last he was in the saddle, racing for the Border.
▪ When it looked as though he was breathing his last, Beria's face shone with delight.
catch your breath
▪ And then history paused, just to catch its breath.
▪ Both waders immediately filled and I caught my breath as freezing April waters began to stimulate sensitive nether regions.
▪ Busacher slumped into the passenger seat and sat catching his breath.
▪ I said, falling on to a chair, trying to catch my breath.
▪ She caught her breath in fear, holding it until the answer came.
▪ She could hear Moxie catching her breath.
▪ The slow movement of this performance is particularly fine, with pianissimos that have you catching your breath.
▪ Tokyo stocks fell Monday as investors caught their breath following a strong advance over the two previous sessions.
draw breath
▪ Given unexpected control of his lungs, he spluttered and drew breaths until his body took over.
▪ He drew breath hard, and stepped out from his shallow niche and stood in the centre of the walk.
▪ In a minute, she would dare draw breath again.
▪ It must be impossible to stand up against it, he wrote, impossible to draw breath before it.
▪ Lady Thatcher never drew breath, while John Major was a good listener.
▪ She drew breath for the first time in three and a quarter hours.
▪ She flipped through the catalogue and drew breath time and again.
▪ She fought the futile urge to draw breath.
hold your breath
▪ It stinks so bad you have to hold your breath until you come out.
▪ Patrice held her breath, waiting for Lettie's reply.
▪ Rachel held her breath as she waited for his answer.
▪ The art world will be holding its breath to see how much these paintings sell for at auction.
▪ An anxious nation holds its breath.
▪ Benjy rang the doorbell, then held his breath, waiting.
▪ He discovered that he was holding his breath, and gulped for air.
▪ It gave her the feeling that the whole world was holding its breath.
▪ She held her breath on another quick dart of guilt.
▪ We held our breaths, covering our nostrils and mouths with our hands.
indrawn breath
▪ From somewhere in the darkness, Sophie made little, stricken noises, all on an indrawn breath.
▪ He could hear her sharply indrawn breath, the effort it took not to comment.
▪ She couldn't prevent her tiny indrawn breath.
▪ She heard the indrawn breath hiss sharply through his teeth, and felt the wave of emotion that washed over him.
▪ She started, her indrawn breath a soft hiss.
▪ The beautiful brocade coat stretched taut across the back, spreading to an intimidating width with his angry, indrawn breath.
▪ There was a brief silence like an indrawn breath.
▪ There were indrawn breaths at such plain speaking, but no actual rebuttals.
intake of breath
▪ All of a sudden, she realised there had been a collective intake of breath and that everyone around her was staring at the monitors.
▪ Crystal iced spires in twinkling reflection, Sharp intake of breath at such perfection.
▪ I force her skinny little arms into the position I need and ignore the sharp intake of breath.
▪ There was a sharp intake of breath behind him, and there she stood in the doorway looking at him.
▪ There was a sharp intake of breath.
▪ Truculently she pushed her hands through the glossy waves and then froze, suddenly aware of Lucenzo's prolonged intake of breath.
▪ When he heard the deep intake of breath, Joe related.
▪ Where an intake of breath is not necessarily followed by an exhalation.
not hold your breath
▪ Wall Street is not holding its breath waiting for a new deal.
save your breath
▪ He might as well have saved his breath - a sea of green benches confronted the Ulster members.
▪ She might as well have saved her breath.
▪ You can save your breath, Fiver.
take your breath away
▪ The view from the overlook will take your breath away.
▪ And if they don't take your breath away the scenery certainly will.
▪ His arrogance almost took her breath away.
▪ She had taken his breath away when she appeared at the door.
▪ Some of it was charmingly primitive, some of it so exotically painted it took your breath away.
▪ The audacity of it takes my breath away, the nerve of the man.
▪ The volatility of the top performers can take your breath away.
▪ This time it was not Ana who took her breath away.
waste your breath
▪ Besides, something told her she'd be wasting her breath.
▪ I ain going waste my breath.
▪ I figure why waste my breath.
▪ Was there any point in even wasting her breath trying to convince him?
▪ You know it and so do I. So don't waste your breath!
with bated breath
▪ The soldiers' families waited with bated breath for news.
▪ From July onwards the town of Whaddon had waited with bated breath.
▪ I was waiting with bated breath for him to say something, anything, that wasn't a cliche.
▪ Neither Bradford nor Birmingham regrets entering the tourist trade - the industry waits with bated breath to see how Swindon fares.
▪ So now I wait with bated breath.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ His teeth were rotten and he had bad breath.
▪ How long can you hold your breath underwater?
▪ I can smell alcohol on your breath.
▪ I could feel the horse's breath on the back of my neck.
▪ It was so cold they could see their breath.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ A slight popping, as if she had been holding her breath.
▪ Her breath caught as a strange little frisson of excitement slid from her throat to her toes at the thought.
▪ Seconds later, the breath once again hissed into her chest, this time with painful intensity.
▪ She tensed; very softy he blew into her ear, until she quivered as his warm breath passed through her.
▪ She took a few deep breaths and told herself that she could handle him.
▪ The boy laughed at them for running and being out of breath for nothing.
▪ To get rid of garlic breath try strong coffee, cloves, honey, yogurt, or parsley.
▪ Two minutes and twenty seconds for Shirley, fourteen minutes for Marylin, and for Virginia, a few breaths.