get the wind knocked out of (one)

get the wind knocked out of (one)

To have one's diaphragm spasm and contract following a sudden force or impact, resulting in a temporary inability to breathe properly. A: "I heard that a car knocked you off your bicycle earlier. Are you OK?" B: "Yes, thankfully I just got the wind knocked out of me. It could have been a lot worse." He got the wind knocked out of him from the blow to his stomach.
See also: get, knock, of, out, wind
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • knock the wind out of (one)
  • to save (one's) life
  • to save life
  • a crick in (one's) neck
  • crick in neck
  • come up for air
  • crick
  • crick in back
  • a crick in (one's) back
  • (from) top to toe