Don't hold your breath

Definition

Don't expect something to happen anytime soon; used to suggest that something is very unlikely to occur.

Etymology

This phrase developed in the mid-20th century from the literal impossibility of holding one's breath for extended periods. The metaphor suggests that waiting for the mentioned event would be as futile and potentially harmful as trying to hold your breath indefinitely.

Kelly Says

The phrase is a vivid example of how English uses physical impossibilities to express skepticism about future events. It's particularly effective because everyone understands the physical limitation of breath-holding, making it an instantly relatable way to communicate doubt about timing or likelihood.

Translations

BNবাংলা
শ্বাস ধরে রাখবেন না
shabās dhore rākhben nā
CSČeština
nedržte dech
neh-dreh-teh dekh
DADansk
hold ikke vejret
hoold ee-keh vay-reht
DEDeutsch
halt den Atem nicht an
HAHlt dehn AH-tem neeht AHN
ELΕλληνικά
μην κράτεις την αναπνοή
mēn kráteis tīn anapnoḯ
ESEspañol
no te ilusiones
noh teh ee-LOO-see-oh-neh-seh
FAفارسی
به نفس خودت نزن
beh nafas-e khodet nezān
FISuomi
älä pidä hengitystä
AH-lah pee-DAH heh-gee-tyhs-tae
FRFrançais
ne retiens pas ta respiration
nuh reh-TEHN pah tah reh-spih-RAH-see-ohn
HEעברית
אל תאחז בנשימה
al tah-CHAZ bah-NEH-shee-mah
HIहिन्दी
अपनी साँस रोकना बंद करो
apnī sāns roknā band karo
HUMagyar
ne tartsd vissza a lélegzetet
neh tahr-tsehd vee-sah leh-LEH-geh-tet
IDBahasa Indonesia
jangan menahan napas
jah-ngahn meh-NAH-hahn NAH-pahs
ITItaliano
non trattenere il respiro
nohn trah-teh-NEH-reh il reh-SPEE-roh
MSBahasa Melayu
jangan menahan nafas
jah-ngahn meh-NAH-hahn NAH-fahs
NLNederlands
hou je adem niet in
how yuh AHD-uhm nayt in
NONorsk
hold ikke pusten
hoold ee-keh POO-stehn
PLPolski
nie zatrzymuj oddechu
nyeh zah-tshee-MOO-y od-DEH-khoo
PTPortuguês
não prenda a respiração
NAH-oh prehn-DAH ah reh-spih-RAH-sow
RORomână
nu reține respirația
noo reh-TEE-neh reh-spih-RAH-tsee-ah
RUРусский
не задерживай дыхание
neh zah-dehr-ZHEE-vay dy-KHAH-nee-eh
SVSvenska
håll inte andan
HOHL eent ahn-DAHN
TAதமிழ்
உச்சவாசம் அடக்கவேண்டாம்
uchchavāsam aṭakkavēṇṭām
TEతెలుగు
శ్వాస ఆపవద్దు
shvāsa āpavadu
THไทย
อย่าหายใจ
yāh hāi jai
TLTL
huwag mong hihintayin ang iyong hininga
hoo-WAHG mohng hee-heen-TAH-yin ahng ee-YOHNG hee-NEE-ngah
TRTürkçe
nefes almaya çalışma
neh-FEHS ahl-MAH-yah chah-lee-MAH
UKУкраїнська
не затримуй дихання
neh zah-TREE-moo-y dy-KHAHN-yah
URاردو
سانس روکے رکھنا بند کرو
sāns roke rakhnā band karo
VITiếng Việt
đừng ngưng thở
duhng nguhng toh

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