hold one's breath
verbDefinitions
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see hold, one's, breath. To keep air in one's lungs, pausing noticeably before exhaling after previously inhaling.
To wait expectantly for something to happen soon.
- He might pay back the money he borrowed without you reminding him, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
- Petraeus hoped they would succeed, and lent his support, but he was not holding his breath.
- It would be nice to think there are grown-ups in the Government ready to sort out the mess for the sake of London and its people... but I'm not holding my breath.
The neighborhood
Vish — recursive loop
No curated loop yet for hold one's breath. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA