with bated breath
English
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with bated breath
- /wɪð ˈbeɪtɪd ˈbɹɛθ/ UK, US
Where it comes from
From the verb bate, alteration by aphesis of the verb abate (“to reduce; lessen”). Coined by William Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice, see quotations.
phrase with 'bated breath · with baited breath
- With reduced breath. Shall I bend low, and in a bond-mans key / With bated breath, and whiſpring humbleneſſe, / Say this:
- Eagerly; with great anticipation. We are waiting with bated breath for the release of the new version.
Translations
Every language
prep_phrase holding one's breath
| Español | conteniendo el aliento |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 숨을 죽이고 sum-eul jugigo |
| Français | en retenant son souffle |
| Deutsch | mit angehaltenem Atem |
| Русский | затаи́в дыха́ние zataív dyxánije |
| עברית | בקוצר רוח |
prep_phrase eagerly
| Español | pasmado, con aliento entrecortado |
|---|---|
| Português | prendendo o fôlego, com a respiração em suspenso, com a respiração suspensa |
| Français | avec impatience |
| Deutsch | mit angehaltenem Atem |
| Русский | затаи́в дыха́ние zataív dyxánije |
Talk about this word "with bated breath." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/with%20bated%20breath. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. with bated breath. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/with%20bated%20breath "with bated breath." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/with%20bated%20breath.Cite this
@misc{with_bated_breath_2026,
title = {with bated breath},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/with%20bated%20breath},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
