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 t

‘Bated’ is simply a shortened form of ‘abated’, meaning ‘to bring down, lower or depress’. ‘Bated breath’ makes perfect sense once you know that. Geoffrey Taylor, i

1 day ago · 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.

Jun 2, 2026 · 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

Feb 28, 2026 · WITH BATED BREATH definition: Eagerly or anxiously, as in We waited for the announcement of the winner with bated breath. This expression literally means “holding

It was a verb used in falconry, meaning to jump violently from a perch to the falconer’s fist. That would often involve a flapping of wings and straining against the leash in an

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

Nov 2, 2019 · “Bated breath” is an idiomatic expression that means to wait anxiously or eagerly for something, often in suspense. It suggests that someone is holding their bre

May 7, 2026 · “Bated breath” describes a moment when someone is waiting anxiously or eagerly for something to happen. It paints a vivid emotional picture of holding your breat