with bated breath

WOTD – 23 December 2007    

English

Etymology

From the verb bate, alteration by aphesis of the verb abate, meaning 'to reduce' or 'lessen'.

Pronunciation

• (RP, US) IPA: /wɪð ˈbeɪtɪd ˈbrɛθ/, X-SAMPA: /wID "beItId "brET/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adverb

with bated breath (not comparable)

1. Used other than as an idiom: holding one's breath.
   • 1598, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act I Scene 3 [1]

     Or | Shall I bend low and in a bondman's key, | With bated breath and whispering humbleness, Say this;

2. (idiomatic) Eagerly; with great anticipation.

   We are waiting with bated breath for the release of the new version.

Translations

holding one's breath

• Finnish: henkeä pidätellen (fi)
• Polish: z zapartym tchem (pl)

• Spanish: conteniendo el aliento (es)

eagerly

• Finnish: henkeä pidätellen (fi)
• German: mit angehaltenem Atem (de)
• Hungarian: lélegzetvisszafojtva (hu)
• Polish: z zapartym tchem (pl)
• Portuguese: prendendo o fôlego (pt), com a respiração em suspenso, com a respiração suspensa

• Russian: затаив дыхание (ru) (zataív dyxánije)
• Spanish: pasmado, con aliento entrecortado
• Telugu: ఊపిరి బిగబట్టి (oopiri bigabaTTi)

References

• Discussion of the phrase
• "With bated breath" in Michael Quinion, Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds, 2004.