Where did the expression waiting with bated breath come from?

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Bated breath is a phrase that means to hold one’s breath due to suspense, trepidation or fear. Bated breath is a phrase first mentioned in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The word bated is an abbreviation of the word abated, meaning to lessen in severity or amount.

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: in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen They waited for the answer on their application with bated breath.

Beside this, Where did the term baited breath originate?

Bated breath is a phrase that means to hold one’s breath due to suspense, trepidation or fear. Bated breath is a phrase first mentioned in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The word bated is an abbreviation of the word abated, meaning to lessen in severity or amount.

Likewise, What does the term with baited breath mean?

: in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen They waited for the answer on their application with bated breath.

Also, What does bated breath mean?

: in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen They waited for the answer on their application with bated breath.

How do you use bated breath in a sentence?

Example Sentences At the time of my annual results I would always be at home, waiting with bated breath for my parents to come back and announce it to me. She waited with bated breath to unwrap her birthday presents after the guests would leave.


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What does waiting with bated breath?

Bated breath, with bated breath, or baited breath refers to restraining one’s breathing in anticipation or supplicance. It may also refer to: In literature. “With bated breath”, a quote from the earliest known use of the phrase, in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (circa 1597)

What does the expression waiting with bated breath mean?

: in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen They waited for the answer on their application with bated breath.

Is it baited breath or bated breath?

Baited breath is a common misspelling of bated breath. Bait is a substance used as a lure to capture fish or other prey, therefore, someone with baited breath would probably have a terrible case of halitosis.

Where did the term baited breath come from?

Bated breath is a phrase that means to hold one’s breath due to suspense, trepidation or fear. Bated breath is a phrase first mentioned in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The word bated is an abbreviation of the word abated, meaning to lessen in severity or amount.

What does Bate mean in slang?

Obvious

What does waited with bated breath mean?

: in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen They waited for the answer on their application with bated breath.

Where does the expression bated breath come from?

Bated breath is a phrase that means to hold one’s breath due to suspense, trepidation or fear. Bated breath is a phrase first mentioned in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The word bated is an abbreviation of the word abated, meaning to lessen in severity or amount.

What does I’m waiting with bated breath mean?

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”). Today it is also used somewhat ironically, indicating one is not all that eager or anxious. [Late 1500s] Also see hold one’s breath, def.

Where did the saying waiting with bated breath come from?

Bated breath is a phrase that means to hold one’s breath due to suspense, trepidation or fear. Bated breath is a phrase first mentioned in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The word bated is an abbreviation of the word abated, meaning to lessen in severity or amount.

What does it mean waiting with bated breath?

: in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen They waited for the answer on their application with bated breath.

How do you spell bated breath?

“Bated” is a form of the word “abate,” which means “to diminish, beat down, or reduce,” and it’s spelled B-A-T-E-D. So when you’re waiting with bated breath (you can think of that as abated breath), you’re so eager, anxious, excited, or frightened that you’re almost holding your breath.

What does the expression bated breath mean?

: in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen They waited for the answer on their application with bated breath.


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