tomar el aire

to get a breath of fresh air

tomar el aire(toh-mahr ehl ay-reh)

intransitive verb phrase

1. (to breathe fresh air)

a. to get a breath of fresh air

Estás muy agitado. ¿Por qué no sales a tomar el aire unos minutos?

You're very agitated. Why don't you go out and get a breath of fresh air?

b. to get some fresh air

Llevo varias horas trabajando en la computadora. Voy a salir un momento a tomar el aire.

I've been working on the computer for a few hours. I'm going to go out and get some fresh air.

2. (to inhale)

a. to take a breath

Valeria olvidó tomar el aire antes de aventarse a la piscina.

Valeria forgot to take a breath before jumping into the pool.

b. to breathe in

La doctora me revisó la garganta y luego me pidió que tomara el aire para escuchar mis pulmones.

The doctor examined my throat and then asked me to breathe in so she could listen to my chest.

3. (to start breathing normally again)

a. to get one's breath back

¿Podemos parar un momento? Necesito tomar el aire.

Can we stop for a minute? I need to get my breath back.

b. to catch one's breath

Tania tuvo que detenerse a la mitad de la carrera para tomar el aire.

Tania had to stop in the middle of the race to catch her breath.