drawing breath

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiomliterary

   The act of taking air into your lungs; a pause to breathe.

   Grammar: Used as a noun phrase, often after 'without' or 'before': without drawing breath.

   Patterns

   • without drawing breath
   • before drawing breath

   She talked for ten minutes without drawing breath.

   He stood at the door, drawing breath slowly before he spoke.

   The runner paused, drawing breath at the top of the hill.

2. 2phraseidiomfigurative

   A short rest or pause in an activity, especially to recover energy.

   Grammar: Often used after 'a' or 'no': a drawing breath, no drawing breath.

   Patterns

   • a drawing breath
   • no drawing breath

   The meeting went on for hours with hardly a drawing breath.

   She worked all day without a drawing breath.

Common combinations

without drawing breath

He listed all the names without drawing breath.

drawing breath deeply

Drawing breath deeply, she began her speech.

a moment of drawing breath

We had a moment of drawing breath before the next task.

Synonyms and how they differ

breathing

More general and neutral; 'drawing breath' sounds more literary and often suggests a deliberate pause.

pausing

Focuses on the stop itself, not on the air you take in; 'drawing breath' often implies you need the air.

Word family

draw verb

To take in air, as in 'draw a breath'.

breath noun

The air you take into your lungs.

Commonly confused: drawing breath or drawing board?

Practice

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