waste of breath
Needless or unnecessary speech.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Don't argue with him; it is a waste of breath.”
“I tried to explain the new rules, but it was a total waste of breath because nobody was listening.”
“Attempting to persuade the stubborn committee proved to be a complete waste of breath, as their minds were already firmly made up.”
- 01
breath of fresh air
Something relieving, refreshing, or new.
- 02
don't hold your breath
Don't wait. Said cynically to suggest that what has just been mentioned is unlikely to happen soon or at all.
- 03
draw one's last breath
To die.
- 04
hold one's breath
To wait expectantly for something to happen soon.
- 05
save one's breath
To refrain from speech; to be quiet, especially where it would have no useful effect to speak.
- 06
take a breath
to inhale and subsequently exhale air
- 07
take a deep breath
To inhale deeply.
- 08
take someone's breath away
To make a person feel emotionally moved in a pleasant way.
Last updated August 10, 2026