🙊 Holding One’s Breath in Expectation
Glossary of Overused Phrases and Platitudes
Holding One’s Breath Back in Expectation
The phrase “holding one’s breath back in expectation,” though used seldom today, harks back to a time when folks would metaphorically catch their breath, often on the edge of their seats, waiting for something significant or climactic to occur.
Roots in Literature:
- **Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice”: “Shall I bend low, and in a bondsman’s key, With bated breath, and whispering humbleness.” (1.3). The Bard beautifully captured the tense anticipation through this expression.
- Charles Dickens, in his work “The Old Curiosity Shop”, used the expression: “She opened with her own hand a closet wherein lay … all her precious possessions.. and with bated breath, and with a childish curiosity that knew no bounds, she visited every nook and corner.” (Chapter 17).
Similar Expressions & Siblings in Lexicon:
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Synonyms:
- Await eagerly
- On tenterhooks
- With bated breath
- Expectantly
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Antonyms:
- Indifferently
- Apathetically
- Unconcernedly
Modern Usage:
“A more recent colloquial locution is don’t hold your breath, meaning ‘don’t wait in vain.’” This expression serves to remind optimistic souls that some wait times might be futile, hinting perhaps that patience might be better spent elsewhere.
Fun Confusion Alert:
With baited breath—nope, not about fishing! This common mistake is quite a laugh. “Bated” means reduced or held back. If you’re biting on the line, maybe rethink the idiom!
Relevant Reads and Flicks For Further Fun:
Literature:
- “The Merchant of Venice” by William Shakespeare 📖
- “The Old Curiosity Shop” by Charles Dickens 📚
Movies:
- Masterpiece renditions of any Shakespeare play, for the ultimate in “bated breath” moments. 🎬
Songs:
- “😗# – Sometimes anticipation echoes in song lines, lyrics pulling taut on emotional strings, awaiting that sweet resolve.”
Quote Worth Quoting:
“Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.” -Joyce Meyer
Quizzes:
Inspirational Thought-Provoking Farewell:
As you unearth the forgotten gem of “holding one’s breath,” may your life be filled with moments of enthralling anticipation. Dive into literary worlds, breathe in the wisdom of the ages, and exhale the joy of new discoveries with unabated enthusiasm. 🌟
L. Literarios, 2023
