gasp for air

gasp for air

To gasp or pant heavily due to having difficulty breathing, as after strenuous activity or holding one's breath. Kelsey's head popped out of the water, and she started gasping for air. The kids sprinted up the steps and were gasping for air by the time they arrived on the fourth floor.
See also: air, gasp
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

gasp for air

to fight for a breath of air. (After one has been deprived of air.) Walter popped to the surface of the water and gasped for air. The injured dog appeared to be gasping for air.
See also: air, gasp
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • gasp for breath
  • gulp for air
  • get (one's) breath back
  • get your breath back
  • gasp out
  • settle down to (something)
  • limber up
  • cream in (one's) pants
  • cream in one’s pants
  • pant out
References in classic literature
The atmosphere was moist and sticky like mucilage, and in the absence of wind all hands seemed to pant and gasp for air. The sweat stood out on faces and bare arms, and Captain Davenport for one, his face more gaunt and care-worn than ever, and his eyes troubled and staring, was oppressed by a feeling of impending calamity.
South Sea Tales
These reactions can also cause you to gasp for air resulting in water being inhaled."
Woman pulled from Lewisham river in Ladywell Fields after huge emergency response; She was rushed to hospital after firefighters pulled her from the Ravensbourne River
With sleep apnea, you stop breathing temporarily throughout the night as the tissue in the back of your throat relaxes and blocks or partially blocks your airways until you gasp for air. The sleep disruption associated with sleep apnea has long been associated with many unhealthy metabolic changes in the body.
Study: Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea Raises Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure
You might be in a cold lake but it takes nearly half an hour for the body's temperature to drop from 37C to 35C to cause an individual's death, but the sudden dropping of iced water makes one go into shock and gasp for air and that proves fatal.
Ice bucket challenge questioned
He added: "It felt like a lifetime, standing over that young man, watching him gasp for air. I was helpless.
One hit & they just go crazy; STUDENT DOCS VICTIMS OF DRUG ATTACK; EXCLUSIVE
Severe apnea is marked by frequent breathing stoppages that cause a person to gasp for air. What's more, the disruptions rob cells of needed oxygen, a condition called hypoxia.
Severe apnea tied to cancer: study finds oxygen loss from sleep disruption raises risk
If your bed partner notices that you snore loudly or gasp for air while you sleep, or you feel excessively tired during the day, talk to your doctor about an evaluation for OSA.
Sleep apnea more than doubles men's stroke risk
GRIM: Seagulls swoop on dead fish, which can be seen on the lake, while others gasp for air
Inquiry after fish die in polluted park lake
"As you giggle and gasp for air, you breathe in more oxygen.
'Laughter the best therapy for obesity'
With your head in my hands you took a last gasp for air And then you were at peace and myself in despair.
Letter: YourSay - DailyPoem
If the passage closes entirely, no air can get through and breathing stops until the brain rouses the person enough to gasp for air.
How sleep affects your weight
Skulls gasp for air in the streets of broken bones,
Kristallnacht: November 9-10, 1938
And as soon as you turn the corner, gasp for air and feel free to sweat bullets.
Shaking shyness: just in time for the holiday social rush, we show you how to break outta the shy shell. The best part is that these are shy-busting tips you can put to use all year round
Margaret added that Tam needed a nebuliser to breathe, had to constantly gasp for air, and would collapse if he tried to walk down stairs.
CRIPPLED EX-MINER TOM `TOO WELL' TO GET FULL PAYOUT; PENPUSHERS TELL GRIEVING WIDOW
In some places, I had to force myself to look up and away from the words and gasp for air.
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