bated breath
Anxious suspended breathing
Bated breath describes anxious anticipation—breathing shallow or held while awaiting an outcome.
Bated is a shortened form of abated, meaning reduced or restrained.
The phrase appears almost exclusively in this fixed expression: We waited with bated breath for the test results.
Sometimes misspelled "baited breath."
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- on the edgeIn precarious position
- tenseStrained or nervous
pins and needles · anxious · nail biting · hushed · silent · expectant · holding · gasp · pause · stillness · nervous · eager · heart pounding · watchful · moment · edge · cliff · high stakes
- breathinginhalation, exhalation, inhale, exhale, respiration
- anticipationanticipating, expectation, expectancy, expecting, awaiting
- suspensesuspense, suspenseful, tension, nail-biter, nail-biting
- Shakespeare phrasesto be or not to be, et tu Brute, all the world's a stage, out damned spot, friends Romans countrymen
bated breathdeep breath
Thorough filling of lungs
sigh of relief · exhale · heavy breathing · panting · gasping
bated breathcalm
Free from agitation
indifference · nonchalance · unconcern · composure · equanimity
bated breathdisinterest
Absence of bias
inattention · distraction · tuning out · couldn't care less · obliviousness
bate, bated, bating, abate, abated, abates, abating, abatement, breath