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

2 days 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.

Meaning Bated breath The meaning of the phrase Breathing that is subdued because of some emotion or difficulty. 'Waiting with bated breath' is holding your breath in anticipation.

Jul 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

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

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

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

May 23, 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

Apr 15, 2026 · “Bated breath” describes the shallow, almost held breathing that accompanies suspense or awe. It signals that someone is so tense or expectant they are barely b

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