if you wait for something with bated breath, you feel very excited or anxious while you are waiting.

'His name wasn't by any chance, Max Peters?' Helena asked with bated breath.

We were waiting with baited breath for the prizes to be announced.

• the oldest profession in the world
• the oldest trick in the book
• the old guard
• the old school tie
• the only game in town
• the operative word
• the order of the day
• the other day
• the other side of the coin
• the other side of the tracks
• the pants off
• the pants off someone
• the parting of the ways
• the party is over
• the path of least resistance
• the patience of a saint
• the patience of Job
• the patter of tiny feet
• the pearly gates
• the pedal to the metal
• the pen is mightier than the sword.
• the penny drops
• the person in the street
• the pick of
• the pick of something