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Glite Dictionary
to need a breather

to need a breather

2 3.6
Want a short rest to catch your breath
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : tomar un respiro
  • After running the marathon, I really need a breather to catch my breath.

Examples

  • I'm sure you needed a breather after opening her letter.

    Love Liza (2002)

  • I need a breather.

    Elektra (2005)

  • - I know, I, I just needed a breather.

    Girl Asleep (2015)

  • I thought we all needed a breather.

    A Simple Favor (2018)

  • Plus I need a breather from this place.

    All the Lost Ones (2025)

  • I need a breather, man.

    Welcome to Collinwood (2002)

  • Anyone who wanted to, for whatever reason, could, even if they just needed a breather for a bit.

    Blog text (2)

  • She needed a breather, simple as that.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • It sounds like you are going through a rough time and need a breather from life.

    Blog text (3)

  • COLUMBIA—Kenny Miles wasn't sure he wanted to spend another season just getting spot duty when South Carolina star Marcus Lattimore needed a breather.

    Blog text (17)

Synonyms

to need a break
vsto need a breather
  • Informal
62 2.1

Want time to rest because you feel tired or stressed

asks for a short rest after physical exertion

Antonyms

to continue
∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

to push through
39 3.6

To keep going despite problems until you finish

How Tired

to need a break
  • Informal
62 2.1
to need a breather
  • Informal
2 3.6

Surface Forms

need a breather infinitive
needed a breather past
needed a breather past participle
needing a breather present participle
needs a breather third person singular

Morphology

need + a + breather

The meaning is directly built from 'need' (require) + 'a' (article) + 'breather' (a brief pause/rest); a B1 learner who knows these words can combine them to infer 'require a short break'. The phrase follows a simple verb + noun pattern and is compositionally transparent rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

Need a breather comes from the simple image of someone stopping to take a quick breather after hard work or exercise. That's why saying you need a breather means 'to need a short rest' to recover.