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breathe |
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(I) won't breathe a word (of it). and (I) won't tell a Soul. Fig. I will not tell anyone your secret. Bill: Don't tell anybody, but Sally is getting married. Mary: I won't breathe a word of it. Alice: The Jacksons are going to have to sell their house. Don't spread it around. Mary: I won't tell a soul. See also: word able to breathe (easily) again and able to breathe (freely) again 1. Lit. able to breathe clean, fresh air with no restriction or obstruction. After I got out of the dank basement, I was able to breathe easily again. 2. Fig. able to relax and recover from a busy or stressful time; able to catch one's breath. (Able to can be replaced with can.) Final exams are over, so I can breathe easily again. As I live and breathe! Fig. How amazing! (Said on seeing or experiencing something surprising.) As I live and breathe, here we are again! Well, as I live and breathe, it's Harry Smith! breathe (up)on someone or something to exhale on someone or something. (Upon is more formal and less commonly used than on.) Please don't breathe upon the food. Don't breathe on me! breathe something (of something) (to someone) to tell something to someone. (Usually in the negative.) Don't breathe a word of this to anyone! I won't breathe a word! breathe something in to take something into the lungs, such as air, medicinal vapors, gas, etc. Breathe the vapor in slowly. It will help your cold. Breathe in that fresh air! breathe something into something to revive something; to introduce something new or positive into a situation. Her positive attitude breathed new life into the company. The project breathed a new spirit into the firm. breathe something out to exhale something. At last, he breathed his last breath out, and that was the end. Breathe out your breath slowly. See also: out breathe a sigh of relief 1. Lit. to sigh in a way that signals one's relief that something has come to an end. At the end of the contest, we all breathed a sigh of relief. 2. Fig. to express relief that something has ended. With the contract finally signed, we breathed a sigh of relief as we drank a toast in celebration. breathe down someone's neck 1. Fig. to keep close watch on someone; to watch someone's activities intently. (Alludes to someone standing very close behind a person.) I can't work with you breathing down my neck all the time. Go away. I will get through my life without your help. Stop breathing down my neck. 2. Fig. [for someone or something] to represent an approaching deadline. The project deadline is breathing down my neck. The due date for this paper is breathing down my neck. See also: neck breathe easy to assume a relaxed state after a stressful period. After this crisis is over, I'll be able to breathe easy again. He won't be able to breathe easy until he pays off his debts. See also: easy breathe in to inhale; to take air into the lungs. Now, relax and breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in deeply; enjoy the summer air. breathe into something to exhale into something; to expel one's breath into something. I was told to breathe into a tube that was connected to a machine of some type. breathe one's last Euph. to die. She breathed her last at about two o'clock that afternoon. Cradled in his wife's arms, he breathed his last. See also: last breathe out to exhale. Now, breathe out, then breathe in. The doctor told me to breathe out slowly. See also: out hardly have time to breathe and scarcely have time to breathe Fig. to be very busy. This was such a busy day. I hardly had time to breathe. They made him work so hard that he scarcely had time to breathe. I don't have time to catch my breath, and I don't have time to breathe. Fig. I am very busy.; I have been very busy. Henry: I'm so busy these days. I don't have time to catch my breath. Rachel: Oh, I know what you mean. Sue: Would you mind finishing this for me? Bill: Sorry, Sue. I'm busy. I don't have time to breathe. not breathe a word (about someone or something) and not breathe a word of it Fig. to keep a secret about someone or something. Don't worry. I won't breathe a word about this matter. Please don't breathe a word about Bob and his problems. Don't worry. I won't breathe a word of it. See also: word not breathe a word to not tell people a secret Please tell me what happened. I promise I won't breathe a word. See also: word breathe (new) life into something to make something that was boring seem interesting again Breathe new life into a tired old bathroom with a coat of brightly coloured paint in this season's exciting colours. See also: life breathe down somebody's neck to pay very close attention to what someone does in a way that annoys or worries them It's awful having to work with a boss who's breathing down your neck the whole time. See also: neck breathe fire to be very angry about something (sometimes + over ) The bishop was breathing fire over the press release made a few days ago. See also: fire live and breathe something if you live and breathe an activity or subject, you spend most of your time doing it or thinking about it because you like it so much For twenty years I've lived and breathed dance. It's been my whole life. breathe (new) life into something to bring ideas and energy to something Changes in the performance have breathed new life into a show that seemed ready to close. He has promised to breathe new life into the organization. See also: life breathe your last (slightly formal) to die Jay made the trip north to be with his mother when she breathed her last. Usage notes: also used to describe the end of a organization, belief, or relationship: Amtrak may shortly breathe its last - without more funding, it may have to shut down next month. See also: last breathe a sigh of relief to feel comfortable again after worrying about something Coastal residents breathed a sigh of relief when the hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm. Her children breathed a quiet sigh of relief when she made arrangements to get help. breathe a word to tell a secret If you breathe a word of this to anyone, the whole deal will fall apart. Usage notes: often used in the form not breathe a word: We were warned not to breathe a word about the party. See also: word breathe down your neck to watch too closely what you do The supervisor breathes down my neck all the time, trying to make sure I'm working hard enough. See also: neck breathe easy to relax Baseball fans can breathe easy now that the players' strike is over. See also: easy live and breathe something to be extremely interested in something I found it hard to discuss the poems, since I did not live and breathe poetry like many of my classmates did. How to thank TFD for its existence? 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He uses remarkable and timely insights from both the apostle Paul and the apologist Luther and breathes new life into classic terms like atonement and the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. The Russian National Orchestra commandeers Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center to perform works by the master classical ballet composer--considered the only 19th-century composer that we know for certain was gay (it's rumored that he killed himself because of it), Making his New York orchestral debut, young Russian super-conductor Vladimir Jurowski breathes new life into Piotr's moody masterpieces, performing Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Hamlet, and others. The restored land scaped garden breathes new life into the historic courtyard grounds, while a 132-seat state-of-the-art auditorium for lectures and cultural events has been carefully constructed beneath its surface. |
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