under one's breath

under one's breath


  1. the air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.
  2. respiration, especially as necessary to life.
  3. life; vitality.
  4. the ability to breathe easily and normally: She stopped to regain her breath.
  5. time to breathe; pause or respite: Give him a little breath.
  6. a single inhalation or respiration: He took a deep breath.
  8. a slight suggestion, hint, or whisper: The breath of slander never touched her.
  9. a light current of air.
  10. Phonetics.
  11. moisture emitted in respiration, especially when condensed and visible.
  12. a trivial circumstance; trifle.
  13. an odorous exhalation, or the air impregnated by it.
  14. Obsolete. exhalation or vapor.


  1. below/under one’s breath, in a low voice or whisper; sotto voce: He protested under his breath because he was afraid to speak up.
  5. save one’s breath, to avoid futile talk or discussion: We were told to save our breath because the matter had already been decided.
  6. take away one’s breath, to make one as if breathless with astonishment; surprise; stun: The sheer beauty of the sea took away my breath.Also take one’s breath away.


  1. the intake and expulsion of air during respiration
  2. the air inhaled or exhaled during respiration
  3. a single respiration or inhalation of air, etc
  4. the vapour, heat, or odour of exhaled airhis breath on the window melted the frost
  5. a slight gust of air
  6. a short pause or resttake a breath for five minutes
  7. a brief timeit was done in a breath
  8. a suggestion or slight evidence; suspiciona breath of scandal
  9. a whisper or soft sound
  10. life, energy, or vitalitythe breath of new industry
  11. phonetics the passage of air through the completely open glottis without vibration of the vocal cords, as in exhaling or pronouncing fricatives such as (f) or (h) or stops such as (p) or (k)Compare voice (def. 11)
  13. catch one’s breath to rest until breathing is normal, esp after exertion
  14. hold one’s breath to wait expectantly or anxiously
  16. out of breath gasping for air after exertion
  17. save one’s breath to refrain from useless talk
  18. take one’s breath away to overwhelm with surprise, etc
  19. under one’s breath or below one’s breath in a quiet voice or whisper

n.Old English bræð “odor, scent, stink, exhalation, vapor” (Old English word for “air exhaled from the lungs” was æðm), from Proto-Germanic *bræthaz “smell, exhalation” (cf. Old High German bradam, German Brodem “breath, steam”), from PIE root *gwhre- “to breathe, smell.” n.

  1. The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.
  2. A single respiration.

Softly, in an undertone or whisper, as in “I can’t stand one more minute of that music,” she muttered under her breath. This idiom, first recorded in 1832, is probably a hyperbole, alluding to a sound that is softer than breathing. In addition to the idiom beginning with breath

  • breathe down someone’s neck
  • breathe easy
  • breathe life into
  • breathe one’s last
  • breathing space
  • breath of fresh air
  • also see:

  • catch one’s breath
  • hold one’s breath
  • in the same breath
  • out of breath
  • save one’s breath
  • take one’s breath away
  • under one’s breath
  • waste one’s breath
  • with bated breath
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