don't hold your breath

You are wondering about the meaning of the phrase don't hold your breath, maybe you heard it in a TV show, movie or theater play. Although this idiom is not used very often, it enriches your capacity of expression and strengthens communication. In which case is the expression don't hold your breath used and what is its meaning?

Meaning of "don't hold your breath"

Meaning

The idiom 'don't hold your breath' is typically used to suggest to someone that they should not expect a particular outcome or result anytime soon. The idiom is often used as a way of expressing how unlikely it is that something will happen, especially when someone has asked for something and the response they receive is not very promising.

Etymology

The origins of the phrase 'don't hold your breath' are believed to date back to the 1800s. It is thought to come from the literal meaning of holding one's breath; this would imply that a particular request would take a very long time to fulfill. The phrase was first published in a book called 'The Life and Times of St. Francis of Assisi', which was published in 1867.

Usage

The phrase 'don't hold your breath' can be used in both a literal and figurative sense. In a literal sense, it suggests that one should not expect something to happen immediately; one should not expect to get a response on a request right away, or that the process of achieving something will take a long time.

In a figurative sense, the phrase is used to express doubt in a particular outcome or result. The phrase is often used as a way of saying that something is highly unlikely to happen. In some cases, the phrase can even be used to express disbelief in a particular situation.

Example Sentences

• George: "Do you think I will get a promotion this year?"

  John: "Don't hold your breath."

• John: "Do you think they will fix the broken window anytime soon?"

  Mary: "I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you."

• Jane: "I'm sure I'm going to get an A on this test!"

  Tom: "Don't hold your breath."

• Samantha: "Do you think the weather will clear up in time for the picnic?"

  Pete: "Don't hold your breath."

The Global Spread of English Idioms

As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.