Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

12 PHRASE If you are short of breath , you find it difficult to breathe properly, for example because you are ill. You can also say that someone suffers from shortness of breath . □  She felt short of breath and flushed. □  Any exercise that causes undue shortness of breath should be stopped.

13 PHRASE If you say that something takes your breath away , you are emphasizing that it is extremely beautiful or surprising. [EMPHASIS ] □  I heard this song on the radio and it just took my breath away.

14 PHRASE If you say something under your breath , you say it in a very quiet voice, often because you do not want other people to hear what you are saying. □  Walsh muttered something under his breath.

15with bated breath → see bated

breath|able /briː ðəb ^ə l/ ADJ A breathable fabric allows air to pass through it easily, so that clothing made from it does not become too warm or uncomfortable.

breatha|lyze /bre θəla I z/ (breathalyzes , breathalyzing , breathalyzed ) in BRIT, also use breathalyse VERB [usu passive] If the driver of a car is breathalyzed by the police, they ask him or her to breathe into a special bag or electronic device in order to test whether he or she has drunk too much alcohol. [mainly BRIT ] □ [be V -ed] She was breathalysed and found to be over the limit.

Breatha|lyz|er /bre θəla I zə ^r / (Breathalyzers ) in BRIT, also use Breathalyser N‑COUNT A Breathalyzer is a special bag or electronic device that the police use to test whether a driver has drunk too much alcohol. [TRADEMARK ]

breathe ◆◇◇ /briː ð/ (breathes , breathing , breathed )

1 VERB When people or animals breathe , they take air into their lungs and let it out again. When they breathe smoke or a particular kind of air, they take it into their lungs and let it out again as they breathe. □ [V ] He stood there breathing deeply and evenly. □ [V n] No American should have to drive out of town to breathe clean air. □ [V in n] A thirteen year old girl is being treated after breathing in smoke. [Also V out n] ●  breath|ing N‑UNCOUNT □  Her breathing became slow and heavy. □  He heard only deep breathing.

2 VERB If someone breathes something, they say it very quietly. [LITERARY ] □ [V with quote] 'You don't understand,' he breathed. [Also V n]

3 VERB [no cont] If you do not breathe a word about something, you say nothing about it, because it is a secret. □ [V n] He never breathed a word about our conversation.

4 VERB If someone breathes life, confidence, or excitement into something, they improve it by adding this quality. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n + into ] It is the readers who breathe life into a newspaper with their letters.

5to be breathing down someone's neck → see neck

6to breathe a sigh of relief → see sigh

▸  breathe in PHRASAL VERB When you breathe in , you take some air into your lungs. □ [V P ] She breathed in deeply.

▸  breathe out PHRASAL VERB When you breathe out , you send air out of your lungs through your nose or mouth. □ [V P ] Breathe out and ease your knees in toward your chest. SYNONYMS breathe VERB 1

inhale:He took a long slow breath, inhaling deeply.

exhale:Hold your breath for a moment and exhale.

pant:She climbed rapidly until she was panting with the effort.

gasp:She gasped for air and drew in a lungful of water.

breath|er /briː ðə ^r / (breathers ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you take a breather , you stop what you are doing for a short time and have a rest. [INFORMAL ] □  Relax and take a breather whenever you feel that you need one.