with bated breath
Definition of with bated breath
: in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen They waited for the answer on their application with bated breath.
From the M-W Editors
Word by Word Definitions
bateplay bated
: to reduce the force or intensity of : restrain
: to take away : deduct
: to lower especially in amount or estimation
: to attempt to fly off something (such as a gauntlet) in fear
See the full definition of bate
breathplay
See the full definition of breath
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