breath of fresh air

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breath of fresh air

1. Lit. an influx of air that is not stale or smelly, especially from outdoors. You look ill, John. What you need is a breath of fresh air.

2. Fig. a portion of air that is not "contaminated" with unpleasant people or situations. (This is a sarcastic version of {2}.) You people are disgusting. I have to get out of here and get a breath of fresh air. I believe I'll go get a breath of fresh air. The intellectual atmosphere in here is stifling.

3. Fig. a new, fresh, and imaginative approach (to something). (Usually with like.) Sally, with all her wonderful ideas, is a breath of fresh air. The decor in this room is like a breath of fresh air.

See also: air, breath, fresh

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That evening I went out merely to get a breath of fresh air, but one thing followed another-- the weather was cold, all nature was looking mournful, and I had fallen in with Emelia. Poor Folk by Dostoyevsky, Fyodor View in context Then, without premeditation, we may express our disapproval of such a turn by getting up from our seats and leaving the theatre for a promenade and a breath of fresh air outside, coming back, when the turn is over, to enjoy the rest of the programme. Michael, Brother of Jerry by London, Jack View in context She had another of her fainting fits this morning, and she asked to go out and get a breath of fresh air. The Moonstone by Collins, Wilkie View in context			break stride break the back of break the bank break the ice break the mold break the mould break the news break the silence break the spell break through break to break to pieces break up break up with break wind break with break with tradition break word breakdown breakfast breaking breaking and entering breaking point breast breath breath of fresh air breathe breathe a sigh of relief breathe a word breathe down neck breathe easy breathe fire breathe in breathe into breathe last breathe life into breathe on breathe out breathe your last bred breed breed like rabbits Breeding will tell breeze breeze along breeze away breeze in breeze off breeze out breeze through breezy			breastworks breastworks breath breath breath breath breath Breath Alcohol Content Breath alcohol ignition interlock device Breath Alcohol Technician Breath analyzer Breath analyzer Breath Control Play Breath Delivery Unit Breath holding Breath holding Breath holding Breath hydrogen excretion Breath Hydrogen Level Breath odor Breath odor Breath odor Breath odor Breath of Fire Breath of Fire Breath of Fire (video game) Breath of Fire 1 Breath of Fire 2 Breath of Fire I Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter breath of fresh air Breath of Heaven Breath of life Breath of the Dying Breath of the Dying Colossus Blade Breath Rate Per Minute Breath Releasing Energy for Transformation & Healing/Happiness breath s breath s breath s breath s breath sound breath sounds breath sounds breath sounds breath sounds breath sounds Breath Sounds Clear and Bilateral breath stacking breath stacking breath stacking breath stacking Breath taking Breath taking Breath taking Breath test Breath test Breath test Breath testing Breath tests Breath tests

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