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 their …

Bated breath What's the meaning of the phrase 'Bated breath'? Breathing that is subdued because of some emotion or difficulty. ‘Waiting with bated breath’ is holding your breath in …

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

Sep 26, 2022 · 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 that is going to …

Aug 4, 2025 · Always remember: The phrase is “bated breath”, meaning to wait anxiously or in suspense. Don’t confuse it: “Baited breath” is incorrect, although widely misused.

Jul 16, 2025 · “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 breath in …

Eagerly or anxiously, as in We waited for the announcement of the winner with bated breath. This expression literally means "holding one's breath" ( bate means "restrain").

The phrase “with bated breath” is a common idiom in the English language that describes a state of anticipation or suspense. It is often used to convey a sense of nervousness or excitement, …

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 effort to escape.

If you wait for something with bated breath, you wait anxiously to find out what will happen.