catch breath

catch one's breath

Fig. to struggle for normal breathing after strenuous activity. The jogger stopped to catch her breath. It took Jimmy a minute to catch his breath after being punched in the stomach.

See also: breath, catch

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catch your breath 

1. to stop breathing for a moment because something surprises or frightens you I caught my breath when I saw the scar on her face.

2. to rest for a moment after doing physical exercise and wait until you can breath regularly again She stopped to catch her breath at the top of the hill.

See also: breath, catch

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catch your breath

to stop for a short time to rest or think about something We needed to catch our breath after she told us the news. She sat down on a rock to catch her breath after climbing to the top of the hill.

See also: breath, catch