Waiting with bated breath ⏳😮💨

Meaning

To be in a state of great suspense or anticipation.

Origin

Shakespeare coined this evocative phrase in his play The Merchant of Venice. In Act III, Scene 1, Salarino describes Antonio's impending financial ruin and the public's eager anticipation of the outcome. He says, 'I know not what I should think of it, but this I feel: that as the rich, proud man sigh, so the poor man doth sigh; and then the rich man doth sigh and the poor man doth pant, and the rich man doth sigh and the poor man doth pant. ' Later, in Richard III, Shakespeare uses the specific phrasing: 'And so, in bated breath, I’ll walk and talk.’ The image is of someone holding their breath in eager expectation, making their breath 'bated' or diminished, so as not to miss a crucial moment.

Waiting with bated breath represented with emoji⏳😮💨

This playful arrangement of ⏳😮💨 functions as a delightful visual puzzle! It captures the fleeting nature of anticipation, inviting us to consider the suspense of waiting, the surprise that might follow, and the ultimate release – or perhaps just the gust of wind passing us by. It's a brief, enchanting narrative, teaching the viewer that even the simplest icons can tell a story full of wonder.

Examples

• The audience was waiting with bated breath for the magician to reveal his final trick.
• We are all waiting with bated breath to hear if she got the job.
• The dragon was waiting with bated breath for the knight to trip over his own sword.
• The teapot was waiting with bated breath for the water to finally boil so it could sing its steamy song.

Frequently asked questions