Don't Hold Your Breath

Welcome to English in a Minute!

We all need to breathe to live.

And even the best swimmers can hold their breath for only so long.

DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH.

Is this a warning for swimmers and divers?

Hey, do you need help moving to your new apartment this weekend?

Oh no, that’s okay.

Evan said he would help.

He has a truck.

Evan?

Don’t hold your breath waiting for him.

He said he’d help move and then never showed up.

Oh. Well then.

What you doing this weekend?

We say “don’t hold your breath,” when we think something is not likely to happen soon, If ever.

Sometimes children threaten to hold their breath until they get what they want, which usually does not work.

You can also say, “I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

And that’s English in a Minute!