out of breath

Idioms  

1. Breathing with difficulty, panting, gasping. For example, After five flights of stairs I'm out of breath. This slightly hyperbolic term (since literally running out of breath means one is dead) dates from the late 1500s. Also see catch one's breath.

---

Example Sentences

Clare, who’d finally run out of breath, clung to Captain’s stem, his furry chest heaving.

From Literature

A gust of wind flies in and then two women run in, disheveled and out of breath.

From Literature

A crackling on the line: The American was back, panting, out of breath.

From Literature

I’m out of breath from spouting all that off while jogging, and I’m frustrated that I couldn’t think of any of it on Monday.

From Literature

She’s out of breath now, but I’m fine.

From Literature