in the same breath

in the same breath

Fig. [stated or said] almost at the same time. He told me I was lazy, but then in the same breath he said I was doing a good job. The teacher said that the students were working hard and, in the same breath, that they were not working hard enough.

See also: breath, same

---

in the same breath 

1. if you say two things in the same breath, you say two things that are so different that if one is true the other must be false She said she didn't love him any more but in the same breath said how wonderful he was.

2. if you talk about two people or things in the same breath, you think they are very similar (often + as ) He's a relatively new director but his name has been mentioned in the same breath as Hitchcock.

See also: breath, same

---

in the same breath

at the same time How can you say that you are against the death penalty but in the same breath say we may need to use it now?

Usage notes: said when comparing two statements that seem to have opposite meanings

See also: breath, same