To wait anxiously or expectantly for something to happen, often implying doubt that it will occur. Can also mean to literally stop breathing temporarily.
The literal meaning of stopping breathing dates back centuries, but the figurative sense of anxious waiting emerged in the early 20th century. The phrase plays on the idea that holding one's breath is uncomfortable and unsustainable, just like waiting indefinitely for something uncertain.
This phrase beautifully captures the physical tension of anticipation - when we're truly anxious about an outcome, we often do literally hold our breath without realizing it. The negative construction 'don't hold your breath' has become more common than the positive, serving as a gentle way to suggest someone shouldn't expect something to happen soon.
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