breathe life into something

breathe (new) life into (someone or something)

1. Literally, to revive someone who is not breathing, as by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation The lifeguard was able to pull the drowning boy from the pool and breathe life into him, thank goodness.

2. By extension, to revitalize something that has become dull or stale. The new CEO's creative approach really breathed new life into that failing company.

See also: breathe, life

breathe (new) ˈlife into something

improve something by introducing new ideas and making people more interested in it: She has breathed new life into a product that was tired and out-of-date.

See also: breathe, life, something