out of breath
/aʊt əv breθ/
Meaning
This phrase describes the physical state of breathing heavily and with difficulty, usually after running, exercising, or doing hard physical work. It is a neutral, everyday expression used by everyone.
Examples
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I ran all the way to the bus stop, and now I'm completely out of breath.
I ran all the way to the bus stop, and now I'm completely out of breath.
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She was so out of breath after climbing the stairs that she couldn't speak.
She was so out of breath after climbing the stairs that she couldn't speak.
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The workout was intense, leaving everyone in the class out of breath.
The workout was intense, leaving everyone in the class out of breath.
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He paused for a moment because he was out of breath from the long jog.
He paused for a moment because he was out of breath from the long jog.
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Are you out of breath just from walking up one flight of stairs?
Are you out of breath just from walking up one flight of stairs?
Common Mistakes
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✗ I am out of breathe.
✓ I am out of breath.
'Breathe' (with an 'e') is the verb, while 'breath' (without 'e') is the noun. The idiom uses the noun form.
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✗ I have out of breath.
✓ I am out of breath.
Use the verb 'to be' (am/is/are/was/were) with this phrase, not the verb 'to have'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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After sprinting to catch the train, I was totally ___.
💡 You could barely breathe.
Show answer
out of breath
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If you get ___ easily, you might need to improve your cardio fitness.
💡 Breathing heavily after light exercise.
Show answer
out of breath