gulp for air

gulp for air

To breathe in a labored manner, usually because one has been holding their breath. Kelsey's head popped out of the water, and she immediately started gulping for air.
See also: air, gulp
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

gulp for air

Fig. to eagerly or desperately try to get air or a breath. Tom gulped for air after trying to hold his breath for three minutes. Mary came up out of the water, gulping for air.
See also: air, gulp
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • gasp for air
  • gasp for breath
  • come up for air
  • breath
  • jungle breath
  • dragon breath
  • pop out
  • get (one's) breath back
  • get your breath back
  • got the dragon
References in periodicals archive
With the help of a physical therapist, Paul gradually overcame fears of breathing on his own and learned to gulp for air -- "kind of like a fish," he says.
'I'm ready for all of this though, Noah,' she's telling me, as I gulp for air before it's back under for another freedive through the world according to Alys.
The pressure is relentless, it does not stop, every time you gulp for air another 1,000 litres of water comes straight at you and yet you have to learn how to drink just to give you the space to breathe," he says.
On stage, far removed from one-to-one engagements, Williams ambles and drawls through songs - hits even, such as Good Ole Boys Like Me, Amanda, Tulsa Time, and a string of others that have won the 63-year-old regiments of fans who can even gulp for air along with their Stetsonclad hero if needs be.
She seemed to gulp for air at one point and open her mouth to speak, but no sound was heard and she simply nodded her agreement as Mr Chapman spoke of the support they had received from police and the community.
As the skies exploded over Sydney, filling the night with colour and detonating another dance till dawn, the 2004 incumbents Greece were already beginning to gulp for air.