breath
/breθ/- the air taken into or expelled from the lungs气息, 呼出（或吸入的）空气：
I was gasping for breath
我大口喘气
his breath smelled of garlic.
他呼出来的气息有股大蒜味。
- an inhalation or exhalation of air from the lungs呼吸：
she drew a quick breath.
她迅速吸了口气。
- mass noun archaic the power of breathing; life〈古〉呼吸能力, 生命。
- in sing. a slight movement of air微风：
the weather was balmy, not a breath of wind.
天气温和, 一丝风也没有。
- in sing. a sign, hint, or suggestion迹象, 暗示：
he avoided the slightest breath of scandal.
他对流言飞语避之唯恐不及。
before one can（或 has time to）draw breath
- before one can do anything, such is the speed of events顷刻之间, 弹指之间。
a breath of fresh air
- a small amount of or a brief time in the fresh air少量的新鲜空气, 短暂的时间内呼吸到的新鲜空气。
- a refreshing change带来新鲜感的变化：
Mike, my present husband, was a breath of fresh air.
我现在的丈夫迈克, 令人耳目一新。
the breath of life
- a thing that someone needs or depends on生命中不可缺少的东西：
politics has been the breath of life to her for 50 years.
这50年以来, 政治一直是她的生命。
catch one's breath
- cease breathing momentarily in surprise or fear（因惊讶或害怕而）屏息。
- rest after exercise to restore normal breathing歇一口气。
don't hold your breath
- informal used to indicate that something is unlikely to happen〈非正式〉［用于表示某事不会发生］别憋着呼吸, 别期望太高：
Next thing you know I'll be knitting baby clothes. But don't hold your breath.
还要告诉你一件事, 我要编织娃娃穿的衣服了。不过不要抱太高期望。
draw breath
- breathe in吸气。
get one's breath back
- begin to breathe normally again after exercise or exertion喘过气来, 恢复正常呼吸。
hold one's breath
- cease breathing temporarily屏气。
- figurative be in a state of suspense or anticipation〈喻〉担心; 期待：
France held its breath while the Senate chose its new president.
参议院选新议长时法国上下屏息以待。
in the - breath
- used to refer to the place of a statement in a sequence of statements, typically one containing a contradiction or inconsistency在…时：
she admitted it but said in the same breath that it was of no consequence.
她承认了这件事同时却又说这并不重要。
the（或 one's）last breath
- the last moment of one's life (often used hyperbolically); death临终, 濒死; 死（常用于夸张）：
she would fight to the last breath to preserve her good name.
为保护自己的贞节名声, 她将斗争到底。
out of breath
- gasping for air, typically after exercise（尤指运动后）喘不过气来。
take breath
- pause to recover free and easy breathing歇口气, 歇会儿透口气。
take someone's breath away
- astonish or inspire someone with awed respect or delight使某人激动（或惊羡）得透不过气来。
under（或 below）one's breath
- in a very quiet voice; almost inaudibly压低嗓子, 低声地：
he swore violently under his breath.
他低声痛骂。
waste one's breath
- talk or give advice without effect徒费唇舌, 白说：
I've far better things to do than waste my breath arguing.
我不会徒费唇舌辩论的, 我还有更有意义的事情要做呢。