bated breath
| Main Entry: | bated breath |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | the condition of waiting for something to happen; subdued breathing due to high emotions |
| Example: | With bated breath, they went to the mailbox every day. |
| Etymology: | 1933; based on bate meaning 'to moderate, restrain' |
Etymonline
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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00:10
Bated breath
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
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