Bated breath first appeared in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice in 1605. Using a shortened form of abated, which means "stopped or reduced," the phrase refers to people holding their breath …

Bated breath What's the meaning of the phrase 'Bated breath'? Breathing that is subdued because of some emotion or difficulty. ‘Waiting with bated breath’ is holding your breath in …

May 28, 2025 · The meaning of WITH BATED BREATH is in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen. How to use with bated breath in a sentence.

Bated breath is an idiomatic expression that means holding one’s breath in excitement. Learn its origin and difference from baited breath.

Sep 26, 2022 · Bated breath refers to holding one’s breath in excitement or anxiety. It refers to a situation where there is a lot of anticipation and nervousness about something that is going to …

Jul 23, 2024 · The idiom “bated breath” has an interesting history rooted in English literature and language evolution. The phrase means holding one’s breath in anticipation or suspense, often …

The phrase “with bated breath” is a common idiom in the English language that describes a state of anticipation or suspense. It is often used to convey a sense of nervousness or excitement, …

Eagerly or anxiously, as in We waited for the announcement of the winner with bated breath. This expression literally means "holding one's breath" ( bate means "restrain").

bated breath - The expression is based on bate, meaning "to moderate, restrain" or "to lessen, diminish"; though bated was once rather common, it is now rare except in this set expression.

If you wait for something with bated breath, you wait anxiously to find out what will happen.