not breathe a word
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verb (used without object)
1.
to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire.
3.
to pause, as for breath; take rest: How about giving me a chance to breathe?
4.
to move gently or blow lightly, as air.
5.
to live; exist: Hardly a man breathes who has not known great sorrow.
6.
to be redolent of.
7.
(of a material) to allow air and moisture to pass through easily: The jacket is comfortable because the fabric breathes.
8.
(of the skin) to absorb oxygen and give off perspiration.
9.
(of a wine) to be exposed to air after being uncorked, in order to develop flavor and bouquet.
verb (used with object)
10.
to inhale and exhale in respiration.
11.
to exhale: Dragons breathe fire.
12.
to inject as if by breathing; infuse: She breathed life into the party.
13.
to give utterance to; whisper.
14.
to express; manifest.
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Not breathe a word
is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
18.
breathe down someone's neck,
a.
to be close to someone in pursuit; menace; threaten: Police from four states were breathing down his neck.
b.
to watch someone closely so as to supervise or control: If everyone keeps breathing down my neck, how can I get my work done?
19.
breathe freely, to have relief from anxiety, tension, or pressure: Now that the crisis was over, he could breathe freely. Also, breathe easily, breathe easy.
20.
breathe one's last, to die: He breathed his last and was buried in the churchyard.
21.
not breathe a word/syllable, to maintain secrecy; keep a matter confidential: I'll tell you if you promise not to breathe a word.
Related forms
out·breathe, verb (used with object), out·breathed, out·breath·ing.
pre·breathe, verb (used with object), pre·breathed, pre·breath·ing.
Synonyms
14. utter, tell, murmur, voice; reveal, divulge.
14. utter, tell, murmur, voice; reveal, divulge.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To not breathe a word
Collins
World English Dictionary
breathe (briːð) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to take in oxygen from (the surrounding medium, esp air) and give out carbon dioxide; respire |
| 2. | (intr) to exist; be alive: every animal that breathes on earth |
| 3. | (intr) to rest to regain breath, composure, etc: stop your questions, and give me a chance to breathe |
| 4. | (intr) (esp of air) to blow lightly: the wind breathed through the trees |
| 5. | (intr) machinery |
| a. to take in air, esp for combustion: the engine breathes through this air filter | |
| b. to equalize the pressure within a container, chamber, etc, with atmospheric pressure: the crankcase breathes through this duct | |
| 6. | (tr) phonetics Compare voice to articulate (a speech sound) without vibration of the vocal cords |
| 7. | to exhale or emit: the dragon breathed fire |
| 8. | (tr) to impart; instil: to breathe confidence into the actors |
| 9. | (tr) to speak softly; whisper: to breathe words of love |
| 10. | (tr) to permit to rest: to breathe a horse |
| 11. | (intr) (of a material) to allow air to pass through so that perspiration can evaporate |
| 12. | breathe again, breathe freely, breathe easily to feel relief: I could breathe again after passing the exam |
| 13. | breathe down someone's neck to stay close to someone, esp to oversee what they are doing: the cops are breathing down my neck |
| 14. | breathe one's last to die or be finished or defeated |
| [C13: from | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
breathe
c.1300, not in O.E., but it retains the original O.E. vowel of its source word, breath. Related: Breathing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
not breathe a word
Not reveal a secret, keep concealed, as in You must promise not to breathe a word of what I'm about to tell you. This phrase relies on the verb breathe as meaning "to utter," a usage dating from the late 1500s.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Nearby Words
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