# take a deep breath

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-a-deep-breath
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To inhale deeply.

## Examples

- Take a deep breath before you start your speech.
- She had to take a deep breath to calm her nerves before walking into the interview room.
- As the tension in the room reached its peak, he paused to take a deep breath, steadying his resolve before delivering the difficult news to the board.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.