breathe a word
To divulge even part of a secret (usually used with a negative).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Please do not breathe a word about the surprise party.”
“She promised not to breathe a word to anyone about the secret project we are working on.”
“Although he knew the truth about the scandal, he dared not breathe a word to the press for fear of losing his career.”
- 01
bad word
A vulgar word.
- 02
breathe a sigh of relief
to be relieved; to feel relief.
- 03
breathe down someone's neck
To follow or supervise someone too closely, causing discomfort for that person.
- 04
breathe easy
To relax or feel secure about something.
- 05
breathe one's last
To die.
- 06
dicky
[Cockney slang]word
- 07
dirty word
The name of a topic that a person prefers not to hear or discuss.
- 08
eat, breathe, and sleep
To devote one's time obsessively to.
Last updated August 10, 2026