under one's breath

under one's breath
*under one's breath
Fig. [spoken] so softly that almost no one can hear it. (*Typically: curse \under one's breath; curse someone or something \under one's breath; mutter \under one's breath; mutter something \under one's breath; say something \under one's breath.) •

John was muttering something under his breath, and I don't think it was very pleasant.

I'm glad he said it under his breath. If he had said it out loud, it would have caused an argument.

* * *
{adv. phr.} In a whisper; with a low voice. * /The teacher heard the boy say something under his breath and she asked him to repeat it aloud./ * /I told Lucy the news under my breath, but Joyce overheard me./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • under one's breath — {adv. phr.} In a whisper; with a low voice. * /The teacher heard the boy say something under his breath and she asked him to repeat it aloud./ * /I told Lucy the news under my breath, but Joyce overheard me./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Under one's breath — Breath Breath (br[e^]th), n. [OE. breth, breeth, AS. br[=ae][eth] odor, scent, breath; cf. OHG. br[=a]dam steam, vapor, breath, G. brodem, and possibly E. {Brawn}, and {Breed}.] 1. The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration; air which, in the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • under one's breath — ► under one s breath in a very quiet voice. Main Entry: ↑breath …   English terms dictionary

  • under one's breath — phrasal see below one s breath * * * under one s breath In a low voice ● breath * * * under (or below) one s breath in a very quiet voice; almost inaudibly he swore violently under his breath. Compare with sotto voce …   Useful english dictionary

  • under\ one's\ breath — adv. phr. In a whisper; with a low voice. The teacher heard the boy say something under his breath and she asked him to repeat it aloud. I told Lucy the news under my breath, but Joyce overheard me …   Словарь американских идиом

  • under one's breath — phrasal so as to be barely audible < mumbled something under his breath > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • under one's breath — in a whisper, with a low voice He was talking under his breath in the movie theater and someone complained …   Idioms and examples

  • below or under one's breath — idi below or under one s breath, in a low voice or whisper …   From formal English to slang

  • under one's breath — adverb softly, so as not to be heard Syn: sotto voce …   Wiktionary

  • under one's breath — quietly, whisperingly …   English contemporary dictionary

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