don't hold your breath

Idioms are generally defined as groups of words that form a meaningful whole when they come together, even though the words in them do not make sense on their own. They have produced many idioms according to their own cultural characteristics in communities using the English language. What does don't hold your breath mean? In what situations is don't hold your breath used?

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 universal role of idioms

"Kill two birds with one stone" is an English idiom that means to accomplish two things with a single action. In French, the similar idiom is "Faire d'une pierre deux coups," which translates to "To kill two birds with one stone." This idiom highlights the efficiency of completing two tasks with one action.