in the same breath

Idioms  

1. Also, in one breath . At or almost at the same time. For example, Ed complains about having too much homework and in the same breath talks about going out every night , or The twins said, in one breath, “More cake, please.” [Mid-1800s]

2. not in the same breath . Not to be compared. For example, Karen's a good runner, but you can't speak of her in the same breath as an Olympic athlete . Also see in the same league .

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in the same breath

Soccer probably won’t supplant my love for baseball, football, basketball and hockey — but I can now mention it in the same breath as them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

Her work was "marked by honesty, depth and a rare ability to bring warmth and toughness in the same breath", he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

Any cultural discussion of that era isn’t complete without mentioning them both in the same breath.

From Salon ● Mar. 27, 2026

“I just lost 14 cents in viewership,” he said, anticipating the outrage his comments would elicit and dismissing it as inconsequential in the same breath.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 9, 2026

I caught them complaining about the humidity outside and in the same breath whining that the air-conditioning was too cold inside.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya