breath
breath
noun
before one can (或 has time to) draw breath
noun
- [mass noun]the air taken into or expelled from the lungs
气息，呼出（或吸入的）空气
I was gasping for breath.
我大口喘气。
his breath smelled of garlic.
他呼出来的气息有股大蒜味。
■an inhalation or exhalation of air from the lungs
呼吸
she drew a quick breath.
她迅速吸了口气。
■[mass noun](archaic)the power of breathing; life
(古)呼吸能力，生命
■[insing.]a slight movement of air
微风
the weather was balmy, not a breath of wind.
天气温和，一丝风也没有。
■[insing.]a sign, hint, or suggestion
迹象，暗示
he avoided the slightest breath of scandal.
他对流言飞语避之唯恐不及。
before one can (或 has time to) draw breath
- before one can do anything, such is the speed of events
顷刻之间，弹指之间
- a small amount of or a brief time in the fresh air
少量的新鲜空气，短暂的时间内呼吸到的新鲜空气
■a refreshing change
带来新鲜感的变化
Mike, my present husband, was a breath of fresh air.
我现在的丈夫迈克，让大家耳目一新。
- a thing that someone needs or depends on
生命中不可缺少的东西
politics has been the breath of life to her for 50 years.
这五十年以来，政治一直是她的生命。
- cease breathing momentarily in surprise or fear
（因惊讶或害怕而）屏息 - rest after exercise to restore normal breathing
松一口气，歇一口气
- (informal)used to indicate that something is unlikely to happen
(非正式)（用于表示某事不会发生）别憋着呼吸，别期望太高
Next thing you know I'll be knitting baby clothes. But don't hold your breath!.
还要告诉你一件事，我要编织娃娃穿的衣服了。不过不要抱太高期望。
- breathe in
吸气
- begin to breathe normally again after exercise or exertion
喘过气来，恢复正常呼吸
- cease breathing temporarily
屏气
■(figurative)be in a state of suspense or anticipation
(喻)焦急，期待
France held its breath while the Senate chose its new president.
参议院选新议长时弗朗思非常焦急。
- used to refer to the place of a statement in a sequence of statements, typically one containing a contradiction or inconsistency
在…时
she admitted it but said in the same breath that it was of no consequence.
她承认了这件事同时却又说这并不重要。
- the last moment of one's life (often used hyperbolically); death
临终，濒死；死
she would fight to the last breath to preserve her good name.
为保护自己的清誉，她将斗争到底。
- gasping for air, typically after exercise
（尤指运动后）喘不过气来
- pause to recover free and easy breathing
歇口气，歇会儿透口气
- astonish or inspire someone with awed respect or delight
使某人激动（或惊羡）得透不过气来
- in a very quiet voice; almost inaudibly
压低嗓子，低声地
he swore violently under his breath.
他压低嗓门恶骂。
- talk or give advice without effect
徒费唇舌，白说
I've far better things to do than waste my breath arguing.
我不会徒费唇舌辩论的，我还有更有意义的事情要做呢。
- Old English brǣth smell, scent, of Germanic origin; related to brood
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