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breather

breather

31 3.4
A short rest to recover energy
  • noun
  • /ˈbriːðər/
  • Informal
translation icon : respiro
  • Sometimes I just sit in the car to give myself a breather before the evening starts.

Do you find it to be a nice breather and give you a sensation of escapism?

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Examples

  • I could use a breather.

  • We'll just take a breather and then we'll keep going, okay?

  • If we realize that that is so, it gives us a breather in the course of which we may simply watch what is going on.

  • I need a breather, man.

  • So how about we have a nice little breather?

  • I think we gotta take a breather.

  • So you could pause when it was clear and you could like take a breather and then continue later.

  • And it will be a nice chance for us to take a bit of a breather, get out the house, have some time just us to.

  • But most importantly, you need to take a breather, decompress, and hit your reset button.

    Blog text (27)
  • After working for several hours, I decided to take a breather to relax and recharge.

Synonyms

break
vsbreather
1.0

A short rest from work or activity

is the specific short rest sense rather than any interruption
to rest
vsbreather
816 1.0

To stop activity to relax or sleep and get energy back

is specifically a short pause or relief rather than a general stopping action
breath
vsbreather
224 1.0

A short rest or pause between activities

is a short rest that is slightly longer than that quick pause
time out
vsbreather
46 2.3

A short break from an activity to rest or talk about what to do next

is the everyday short rest term without formal procedure connotation
lull
vsbreather
28 4.6

A short quiet time when activity pauses

is a short rest focused on personal relief rather than general calm
respite
vsbreather
25 7.2

A short break from something difficult or unpleasant

is the everyday short rest term rather than the formal one
letup
vsbreather
4 5.5

A short pause when something becomes less strong or active, for example rain

is a short rest for people rather than a drop in intensity
rest period
vsbreather
3 2.5

A short time to relax and get energy back

is a short rest rather than a scheduled or possibly longer period
breathing space
vsbreather
  • Formal
1 3.5

A short time to rest or think when you feel pressure

is the neutral short rest meaning without the stress emphasis
quick breather
vsbreather
  • Informal
1 3.0

A short break to breathe and rest

is the general short rest term without stressing quickness
breathing time
vsbreather
1 4.3

A short rest to get energy before continuing a difficult task

is for short relief in many situations not only before hard tasks
cooldown
vsbreather
1 3.8

A short pause people take to calm down after a strong feeling

is a general short rest not limited to calming after intensity
breathing spell
vsbreather
4.2

A short time to rest from work or trouble

is a short rest but is used more generally across situations
breathing place
vsbreather
4.8

A short time to rest and feel less stressed

is a general short rest term not tied to stress contexts
comfort break
vsbreather
  • UK
3.7

A short pause to use the toilet or have a brief rest

is a short rest for relief from activity rather than a restroom pause

Antonyms

1.0

Effort people use to do a job or task

362 1.1

A state of being busy and moving

Compounds

A performer who blows fuel from the mouth to make a flame

mouth breather
  • Offensive
2 9.3

A person who seems not very smart or lacks social skills

quick breather
  • Informal
1 3.0

A short break to breathe and rest

fire-breather
  • Offensive
8.0

A person who says things that make people angry or afraid

snorkel breather
  • Specialized
9.5

A pipe pulled out to let a submarine get air while underwater

How Long

vacation
  • US
1.0
rest
703 1.0
break
1.0
breather
  • Informal
31 3.4
pause
192 1.0

Surface Forms

breather singular
breathers plural

Morphology

breather = breathe (semi-transparent) = breathe + er

While 'breathe' + 'er' suggests someone or something that breathes, the specific meaning of a short rest is not directly derivable.

Etymology

The word breather comes from breathe 'to take air' and the ending -er 'one who' or 'thing that'. That is why a breather means a short pause to take a breath and a short rest.