breathing spell

breathing spell

A pause to rest or to think over something. Give me a minute, I just need a little breathing spell while I figure this out.
See also: breathing, spell
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • catch (one's) breath
  • catch breath
  • catch one's breath
  • catch your breath
  • spell
  • come in and sit a spell
  • set a spell
  • spell out
  • listen to
  • sound out
References in periodicals archive
In such a space, an attuned ballet conductor may hold an entire orchestra at rest for a dancer's spectacular balance or breathing spell.
Music: It's About Time
After a breathing spell, the huntsmen and dogs were ranged as before and another let loose.
Fox hunt
The automatic stay arising from the bankruptcy precludes the lender from proceeding any further with its foreclosure and provides the homeowner-debtor with a breathing spell to file and confirm a Chapter 13 plan.
Court decision may cost lenders
Politically, it has entailed a fierce repression of the small human rights movement that had been given a breathing spell during 1987-89.
No more Soviet aid for Cuba?
But the CPP-NPA's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire for select days in December reveals its desperation for a breathing spell as a revitalized military continues its operations against them.
Criminals and terrorists don't deserve a truce
These motions are only granted for very good cause because the courts take seriously the stated principles of the Bankruptcy Code to provide the debtor a breathing spell from creditors and a fresh start.
Top ten things to do when a bankruptcy is filed
Ejercito, in a radio interview, made one step further by saying it would be better if the executive branch suspends the excise tax collection not only for six months but extend it to 12 months to give tax-burdened Filipinos a breathing spell.
Senators support proposal to suspend 2nd round of fuel excise tax
(Let us give a breathing spell for our fellow citizens who are drowning due to high prices.
Bam Aquino pushes for fuel excise suspension
Stanley Chik, from Bright Smart Securities International in Hong Kong, said "the impact of tariffs on economic growth appears limited for now, giving the market a breathing spell."
Global stocks mostly rise even as US-China trade war gets real
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has given individual and business taxpayers a breathing spell from the annual investigation of their income tax returns (ITRs).
BIR eases policy on probing taxpayers