- [uncountable]
the air that you take into your lungs and send out again 呼吸的空气 His breath smelt of garlic. 他呼出的气中有大蒜味。 bad breath (= that smells bad) 口臭 She was very short of breath (= had difficulty breathing). 她呼吸很困难。 Patients develop a cough and shortness of breath. 患者出现咳嗽和呼吸急促。 There was a sharp intake of breath in the courtroom. 法庭里传来一阵急促的吸气声。 We had to stop for breath before we got to the top. 我们不得不喘口气，然后再登山顶。 While there is breath left in my body, I will refuse. 趁我身上还有气息，我就拒绝。
Extra ExamplesHe came up out of the water gasping for breath. 他从水里钻出来，大口喘着气。 His breath came in short gasps. 他急促地喘着气。 I could smell gin on her breath. 我能闻到她呼吸中的杜松子酒气。 I felt a bit short of breath and had to sit down. 我有点喘不过气来，只好坐下了。 She could feel his warm breath against her cheek. 她能感觉到他温热的气息直扑面颊。 She poured out her story, hardly pausing for breath. 她滔滔不绝地讲着自己的经历，几乎都没有停下来喘口气。 Smoking gives you bad breath. 吸烟会导致口臭。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- deep
- heavy
- …
- draw
- draw in
- inhale
- …
- come in gasps, pants, puffs, etc.
- on somebody’s breath
- out of breath
- under your breath
- …
- a breath of fresh air
- an intake of breath
- in the same breath
- …
- [countable]
an amount of air that enters the lungs at one time 一次吸入的空气 Take a deep breath and try to relax. 深呼吸，尽量放松。 He recited the whole poem in one breath. 他一口气背出了整首诗。 He sucked in a deep breath. 他深吸了一口气。
Extra ExamplesHe let out a long breath. 他长长地舒了一口气。 How can we trust a government that mentions community care and cutbacks in the same breath? 我们怎能相信这样的政府：一方面提倡社区关怀，同时又说要削减这方面的开支？ I opened the window and took a deep breath. 我打开窗户，深深地吸了一口气。 Take slow, calm breaths until you feel your heartbeat slowing down. 慢慢地、平静地呼吸，直到你感觉心跳变慢。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- deep
- heavy
- …
- draw
- draw in
- inhale
- …
- come in gasps, pants, puffs, etc.
- on somebody’s breath
- out of breath
- under your breath
- …
- a breath of fresh air
- an intake of breath
- in the same breath
- …
- [singular] breath of something (formal)
a small amount of something; slight evidence of something 微量；迹象 a breath of suspicion/scandal 一丝怀疑；丑闻的嫌疑
- [singular] a breath of air/wind (literary)
a slight movement of air （空气的）微微流动，拂动 It was a still day, without a breath of wind. 那天很平静，没有一丝风。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- deep
- heavy
- …
- draw
- draw in
- inhale
- …
- come in gasps, pants, puffs, etc.
- on somebody’s breath
- out of breath
- under your breath
- …
- a breath of fresh air
- an intake of breath
- in the same breath
- …
Word OriginOld English brǣth ‘smell, scent’, of Germanic origin; related to brood.
Idioms
a breath of (fresh) air
clean air breathed in after being indoors or in a dirty atmosphere 新鲜空气；透气 We'll get a breath of fresh air at lunchtime. 我们午餐时出去透透气。 I'm going outside for a breath of fresh air. 我要出去呼吸点儿新鲜空气。
a breath of fresh air
a person, thing or place that is new and different and therefore interesting and exciting 令人耳目一新的人（或事物、地方） The new secretary is a breath of fresh air. 新来的秘书就像一股新鲜空气。
the breath of life to/for somebody
- (literary)
an essential part of a person’s existence 某人生存的必需品 Playing the violin has been the breath of life to her for over 20 years. 20多年来，拉小提琴一直是她生活的一部分。
catch your breath
to stop breathing for a moment because of fear, shock, etc. （由于恐惧、震惊等）屏息，屏气 When he said he had resigned, I caught my breath in surprise. 他说他已经辞职时，我惊讶得喘不上气来。
- (also get your breath (again/back) British English)
to start to be able to breathe normally again after running or doing exercise that makes you tired 恢复正常呼吸
draw breath (British English)
(US English draw a breath)
get your breath (again/back) (British English)
(also catch your breath North American English, British English)
to breathe normally again after running or doing exercise that makes you tired 恢复正常呼吸 I needed a few minutes to get my breath back after the run. 跑步后我需要过几分钟才能恢复正常呼吸。 She paused to catch her breath. 她停顿下来，屏住了呼吸。
hold your breath
to stop breathing for a short time 闭气；屏气 to be nervous while you are waiting for something that you are anxious about 屏息以待；焦虑地等待 - (informal)
people say don’t hold your breath! to emphasize that something will take a long time or may not happen 别眼巴巴等着；有你等的
in the same breath
his/her last/dying breath
the last moment of a person’s life 最后一口气；临终；临死
out of breath
having difficulty breathing after exercise （运动后）喘不上气，透不过气来 We were out of breath after only five minutes. 我们五分钟后便气喘吁吁了。 I'm a bit out of breath after my run. 跑步后我有点上气不接下气。
save your breath
say something, speak, mutter, etc. under your breath
to say something quietly so that people cannot hear 小声地，轻声地（说） ‘Rubbish!’ she muttered under her breath. “垃圾！她低声咕哝着。 He was whispering rude remarks about her under his breath. 他正小声嘀咕着骂她。
take somebody’s breath away
waste your breath
to say something that nobody takes any notice of 白费唇舌 You're just wasting your breath. She never listens. 你只是在白费口舌，她从来不听别人的话。
with bated breath
- (formal)
feeling very anxious or excited 焦虑；兴奋 We waited with bated breath for the winner to be announced. 我们屏住呼吸等待宣布冠军是谁。 We waited for the decision with bated breath. 我们屏住呼吸等待着这个决定。