breathe (up)on (someone or something)

breathe (up)on (someone or something)

To exhale onto someone or something. Quit breathing on me with your germs—I don't want to get sick, too! The engagement ring is so expensive that I'm nervous to even breathe upon it! This priceless heirloom needs to stay in the safe. Its integrity could be compromised if someone so much as breathes upon it!

See also: breathe

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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!

See also: breathe, on

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.