time to catch (one's) breath
time to catch (one's) breath
1. An amount of time needed to resume breathing normally after some prolonged aerobic exercise. Can we stop for a couple minutes? I need a little time to catch my breath—I can't run as fast as you guys! Make sure you give yourself time to catch your breath during the marathon.
2. An amount of time in which one is at rest, either physically or mentally, in order to regain one's composure, become more organized, or begin thinking clearly again. There have been so many things going on all at once lately that I haven't had time to catch my breath! Once we all have a little time to catch our breath, we can start working out a plan for the distribution process.
See also: breath, catch, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
*time to catch one's breath
Fig. enough time to relax or behave normally. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give one ~.) When things slow down around here, I'll get time to catch my breath. Sally was so busy she didn't even have time to catch her breath.
See also: breath, catch, time
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- against time
- against the clock
- become pushed for time
- be taken up with (someone or something)
- at a moment's notice
- any day
- any time means no time
- (it's) time to move along
- a race against time
- any time