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  1. "bated breath" vs. "baited breath" : Pardon the Expression

    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 …

  2. Bated Breath - Meaning & Origin Of The Phrase - Phrasefinder

    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 anticipation.

  3. WITH BATED BREATH Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

    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.

  4. Bated Breath or Baited BreathMeaning and Origin - GRAMMARIST

    What is the Meaning of Bated Breath? The Farlex Dictionary of Idioms defines the phrase bated breath as breathing shallowly in anticipation of something. Meanwhile, McGraw-Hill Dictionary …

  5. Bated Breath (Meaning, Origin, Examples of Use) - GrammarBrain

    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 …

  6. Bated breath - Idioms by The Free Dictionary

    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"). Today it is also …

  7. Understanding "with bated breath" Idiom: Meaning, Origins

    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, …

  8. bated breath meaning, origin, example, sentence, history - The …

    Jul 23, 2024 · “Bated breath” is a classic example of how language evolves yet retains certain phrases due to their literary roots and expressive power. Its origin in Shakespeare’s writing …

  9. Definition of 'with bated breath' - Collins Online Dictionary

    If you wait for something with bated breath, you wait anxiously to find out what will happen. [ formal ] Every Monday the whole office used to wait with bated breath for his report.

  10. Bated breath - definition of bated breath by The Free Dictionary

    Define bated breath. bated breath synonyms, bated breath pronunciation, bated breath translation, English dictionary definition of bated breath. The expression is based on bate, …

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