- bated breath
If you wait for something with bated breath, you are both anxious and excited about an imminent event.
We waited with bated breath for the winner to be announced.
English Idioms & idiomatic expressions. 2014.
bated breath
Look at other dictionaries:
bated breath — If someone says they re waiting with bated breath, they re very excited and find it difficult to be patient.( Baited breath is a common mistake.) … The small dictionary of idiomes
bated breath — see BATE (Cf. bate) (1) … Etymology dictionary
bated breath — See with bated breath … English idioms
bated breath — not baited. Bated is a cousin of abated and so implies something that is withheld … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
bated breath — Synonyms and related words: aspiration, breath, breathy voice, exhalation, little voice, low voice, mumble, mumbling, murmur, murmuration, murmuring, mutter, muttering, sigh, soft voice, stage whisper, still small voice, susurration, susurrus,… … Moby Thesaurus
bated breath — n. held breath; restrained breathing … English contemporary dictionary
with bated breath — (holding one s breath) in fear or suspense • • • Main Entry: ↑bate with bated breath With breath restrained out of suspense, fear or reverence • • • Main Entry: ↑breath * * * with bated breath phrase worried or excited and paying a lot of… … Useful english dictionary
with bated breath — if you wait for something with bated breath, you feel very excited or anxious while you are waiting. His name wasn t by any chance, Max Peters? Helena asked with bated breath. We were waiting with baited breath for the prizes to be announced … New idioms dictionary
with bated breath — adverb /wɪð ˈbeɪtɪd ˈbrɛθ/ Eagerly; with great anticipation. Or | Shall I bend low and in a bondmans key, | With bated breath and whispering humbleness, Say this; … Wiktionary
wait with bated breath — wait with suspense, want to know what happens We waited with bated breath for news of the fallen climber … English idioms
