catch one's breath

English

Verb

catch one's breath (third-person singular simple present catches one's breath, present participle catching one's breath, simple past and past participle caught one's breath)

1. to take a break, or rest while doing a strenuous activity, so that one's breathing becomes easier

   They stopped for a moment at the end of the set to catch their breath before resuming play.

2. to take in a breath sharply and hold it, usually in reaction to a sudden shock, or surprise

   John caught his breath when he saw the bottle rolling unstoppably towards the opposite edge of the table.

Translations

to take a break, or rest while doing a strenuous activity

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 歇口氣／歇口气 (xiē kǒuqì), 休息一下 (xiūxi yīxià)

• Finnish: hengähtää (fi), haukkoa henkeä
• French: reprendre son souffle (fr)
• German: verschnaufen (de)
• Italian: prendere fiato
• Maori: hāhā
• Persian: استراحت (fa) (esterâhat), دم‌گیری (dam-giri)
• Polish: zaczerpnąć tchu
• Romanian: își trage sufletul
• Russian: передохну́ть (ru) pf (peredoxnútʹ), перевести́ дыха́ние pf (perevestí dyxánije)
• Spanish: tomar un respiro
• Swedish: hämta andan (sv), pusta ut
• Tagalog: suminghap, maghabol ng hininga

to take in a breath sharply and hold it, usually in reaction to a sudden shock, or surprise

• Finnish: haukkoa henkeä
• Italian: prendere fiato
• Japanese: 息を呑む (ja) (いきをのむ, iki o nomu), 息を殺す (いきをころす, iki o korosu)
• Russian: перевести́ дух pf (perevestí dux)
• Spanish: recuperar el hálito, recobrar el huelgo
• Swedish: flämta (sv)