take a deep breath

Meaning

This expression means to fill your lungs with as much air as possible. It is used literally in medical or physical contexts, and figuratively to encourage someone to calm down, relax, or prepare themselves before doing something difficult.

Examples

• Before you start your presentation, take a deep breath and relax.

  Before you start your presentation, take a deep breath and relax.

• The doctor asked me to take a deep breath while she listened to my lungs.

  The doctor asked me to take a deep breath while she listened to my lungs.

• I had to take a deep breath to stop myself from getting angry.

  I had to take a deep breath to stop myself from getting angry.

• Just take a deep breath; everything is going to be fine.

  Just take a deep breath; everything is going to be fine.

• She paused, took a deep breath, and walked onto the stage.

  She paused, took a deep breath, and walked onto the stage.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Take a deep breathe before you speak.

  ✓ Take a deep breath before you speak.

  'Breathe' (with an 'e') is the verb (/briːð/), while 'breath' (without an 'e') is the noun (/brɛθ/). The phrase requires the noun 'breath'.

• ✗ He made a deep breath.

  ✓ He took a deep breath.

  The verb 'take' (or sometimes 'draw') is the only natural collocation to use with 'breath' in this context. Avoid 'make' or 'do'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you feel anxious, just close your eyes and ___.

  💡 Fill your lungs with air to calm down.

  Show answer

  take a deep breath

• The nurse told the patient to ___ and hold it for three seconds.

  💡 A common medical instruction to inhale fully.

  Show answer

  take a deep breath