devil's breath
- noun
- /ˈdɛvəlz brɛθ/
- Literature
:
aliento del diablo
- As the flames raged, firefighters described the scorching wind as the devil's breath.
Examples
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The abandoned building was filled with the devil's breath of mold and decay.
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As we entered the cave, the devil's breath surrounded us.
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The night was so still, she imagined the slightest breeze carried the devil's breath across the fields.
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The heat was like devil's breath on my skin.
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As the flames raged, firefighters described the scorching wind as the devil's breath.
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The abandoned building was filled with the devil's breath of mold and decay.
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Entering the haunted house, we could feel the devil's breath in the musty air.
Synonyms
6
6.4
A strong unpleasant smell coming from the mouth
Breath that smells very bad like a fart
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
devil's + breath
The phrase combines ‘devil’ (suggesting something sinister, dangerous, or evil) with ‘breath’ (an air, scent, or subtle sensation), so a learner who knows both words can infer a general sense of an unpleasant or ominous gust/odor/sensation. However, the specific nuance(s)—whether it denotes intense heat, a chilling presence, or a strong unpleasant smell—are metaphorical and variable, so the exact meaning is not fully predictable without exposure.
Etymology
Devil's breath may come from the picture of the devil blowing a hot, dangerous breath, like a burning wind or a rotten smell that fills a place. That's why people use devil's breath to mean 'a very strong, unpleasant smell', 'a hot, dangerous wind', or 'a cold, scary feeling'.