a)to deliberately not breathe out for a short time 屏住呼吸
Hold your breath and count to ten.
屏住呼吸数到十。
b)to not breathe out and try not to make a sound because you do not want to be noticed 屏息静气
Julie shrank back against the wall and held her breath.
朱莉缩到墙边,屏住呼吸。
c)not hold your breath spoken used to say that you do not expect something to happen, even though someone has said it will 不指望某事发生
He promised he’d phone, but I’m not holding my breath.
他答应要打电话的,不过我可不指望他会打。
Examples from the Corpus
hold your breath• An anxiousnationholds its breath.• It gave her the feeling that the whole world was holding its breath.• He discovered that he was holding his breath, and gulped for air.• Rachel held her breath as she waited for his answer.• We held our breaths, covering our nostrils and mouths with our hands.• She held her breath on another quickdart of guilt.• The art world will be holding its breath to see how much these paintingssell for at auction.• It stinks so bad you have to hold your breath until you come out.• Patrice held her breath, waiting for Lettie's reply.• Benjy rang the doorbell, then held his breath, waiting.