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Glite Dictionary
breathing time

breathing time

1 4.3
A short rest to get energy before continuing a difficult task
  • noun
  • /ˈbriːðɪŋ taɪm/
translation icon : tiempo de respiro
  • Before tackling the next challenging project, the team agreed to take a breathing time to gather their thoughts.

Examples

  • Thirty minutes of breathing time starts now.

    Ocean's Eleven (2001)

  • But OK, so when I came in, I I had enough breathing time on my drive in that when I I didn't make an active decision, but I.

  • Someone with energy and pull should challenge the test giants and institute summer tests; it makes perfect sense that students have some breathing time and can focus on the standardized test requirement at some schools.

    Blog text (14)

  • Under NAFTA, Mexico has been given some breathing time to protect plant breeders' rights and integrated circuit layouts, and to put in place mechanisms for enforcing intellectual property rights against imports.

    Academic text (1994)

  • After a long week of intense studying, I took a short breathing time to relax and recharge.

  • She decided to step outside for a few minutes of breathing time before resuming her difficult tasks.

Synonyms

breath
vsbreathing time
224 1.0

A short rest or pause between activities

is the short relief before continuing a challenging action or job
time out
vsbreathing time
46 2.3

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

is the short relief specifically taken before carrying on with difficult work
breather
vsbreathing time
  • Informal
31 3.4

A short rest to recover energy

is used especially to pause briefly during difficult ongoing tasks
quiet time
vsbreathing time
21 3.7

A short time that is calm and quiet for rest or thinking

is the short relief before resuming hard activities rather than general silence
breathing room
vsbreathing time
16 3.8

Extra space or time that lets you relax and think

is a short time of relief rather than physical or mental space
breathing space
vsbreathing time
  • Formal
1 3.5

A short time to rest or think when you feel pressure

is the temporary rest specifically intended before continuing hard work
quick breather
vsbreathing time
  • Informal
1 3.0

A short break to breathe and rest

is the short rest used before continuing difficult tasks not only during exertion
cooldown
vsbreathing time
1 3.8

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

is a short rest used to prepare for continuing difficult tasks not only calming
breathing spell
vsbreathing time
4.2

A short time to rest from work or trouble

is the general pause used before continuing any difficult activity
breathing place
vsbreathing time
4.8

A short time to rest and feel less stressed

is used as a short break before resuming demanding or hard tasks

Antonyms

exertion
23 5.0

Strong physical or mental effort that makes you tired

How Long

to reprieve
1 6.8
respite
25 7.2
breathing space
  • Formal
1 3.5
breathing time
1 4.3
pause
192 1.0

Surface Forms

breathing time singular
breathing times plural

Morphology

breathe + time

The meaning 'a short period of rest' is directly derivable from combining 'breathe' (to take a breath/briefly rest) with 'time' (a span), i.e. 'time to breathe' or a pause. This compositional logic is common in English (cf. 'breathing space') and cross-linguistically supported, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Breathing time comes from the image of breathing during a short time of pause, like a runner stopping to catch their breath before the last sprint. That's why it means 'a short rest or relief' before continuing.