held breath
Lungs on standby
Held breath is the state of temporarily stopping breathing, usually in anticipation or suspense.
People hold their breath awaiting news, during tense moments, or when trying to stay quiet.
The whole room held its breath as the envelope was opened.
To say something is not worth holding your breath for means you shouldn't expect it anytime soon.
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- on edgeTense and anxious
- edge of seatState of rapt tension
- waitingRemaining in expectation
tension · underwater · lungs · silence · stillness · anxious · pins and needles · heart pounding · moment · pause · suffocate · diving · nervous · chest · tight · inhale · pregnant · airless
- breathinginhalation, exhalation, inhale, exhale, respiration
held breathexhale
Expel breath outward
exhalation · normal breathing · sigh · outbreath · breathing out
held breathsigh of relief
Exhale expressing released tension
relaxation · release · tension release · calm · relief
held, breath, hold, holds, holding, beheld, beholder, behold, breathe