breath [breθ]
noun
1 (respiration) aliento (m)
you could smell the whisky on his breath estaba claro que el aliento le olía a whisky; without pausing for breath sin detenerse ni un momento para recobrar el aliento or la respiración
to have bad breath tener mal aliento
he stopped running to catch his breath dejó de correr para recobrar el aliento or la respiración
the pain made her catch her breath el dolor hizo que se le cortara la respiración
to draw breath respirar (exist)
he was one of the meanest people who ever drew breath era una de las personas más mezquinas que jamás ha visto este mundo
to draw one's first breath venir al mundo
to draw one's last breath exhalar el último suspiro (literary)
to get one's breath back recobrar el aliento or la respiración
to hold one's breath contener la respiración
the whole world is holding its breath el mundo entero está en vilo; "he said he would be here" — "well, I wouldn't hold your breath" —dijo que vendría —sí, pues yo le esperaría sentado (informal)
to lose one's breath perder el aliento
to be/get out of breath estar/quedar sin aliento
in the same or next breath acto seguido
she felt hot and short of breath tenía calor y se ahogaba
he was short of breath after the climb estaba sin aliento después de la escalada; she has asthma and sometimes gets short of breath tiene asma y a veces se ahoga or le falta el aliento
she sucked in her breath tomó aliento; aspiró
to take a breath respirar
he took a deep breath respiró hondo
to take one's breath away dejar a uno sin habla
he muttered something under his breath dijo algo entre dientes or en voz baja
to waste one's breath gastar saliva (en balde) (informal)
2 (puff) soplo (m)
there wasn't a breath of wind no corría ni un soplo de viento
we must avoid the slightest breath of scandal debemos evitar el más mínimo soplo de escándalo
a breath of fresh air
we went out for a breath of fresh air salimos a tomar el (aire) fresco; she's like a breath of fresh air es como un soplo de aire fresco