Out of Breath

Meaning of Idiom ‘Out of Breath’

To be out of breath means to have difficulty breathing; to be breathless, panting, or gasping as from running or vigorous activity; to be breathing fast and hard. 1Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.,2Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,3Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth M. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms. Ware: Wordsworth, 1995.,4Spears, Richard A. McGraw-Hill’s American Idioms Dictionary. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.

Compare catch one’s breath.

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Usage Notes

This phrase is always hyperbolic since to literally ‘run out of breath’ means to be dead. It is most often used in regards to difficulty breathing after vigorous exercise or physical effort but can be used to describe any such difficulty in breathing.

One can be out of breath or get out of breath.

Examples Of Use

“I need to get in shape. I’m totally out of breath after just a couple of flights of stairs.”

“That was a hard workout. I’m not usually so out of breath.”

“I ran all the way to work and was completely out of breath. Everyone thought I was having a heart attack or something.”

“I need to see a doctor. I keep getting out of breath after the slightest exertion.”

“You walk so fast. I’m out of breath trying to keep up with you.”

“These races seem so easy for him. He’s barely even out of breath at the end.”

Origin

Used since the late 1500s.

More Idioms Starting with O

• Off Base
• One Fell Swoop
• Your Own Worst Enemy
• On a Roll
• On the Same Page, to be

More Breath Idioms

• In the Same Breath
• Catch Your Breath
• Under One’s Breath

More Out Idioms

• Out of Wedlock
• Keep an Eye Out Meaning
• Ship Out
• Hide Out
• Out the Wazoo