before one can (或 has time to) draw breath

before one can do anything, such is the speed of events

顷刻之间，弹指之间

a breath of fresh air

a small amount of or a brief time in the fresh air

少量的新鲜空气，短暂的时间内呼吸到的新鲜空气

the breath of life

a thing that someone needs or depends on

生命中不可缺少的东西

politics has been the breath of life to her for 50 years.

这五十年以来，政治一直是她的生命。

catch one's breath

cease breathing momentarily in surprise or fear

（因惊讶或害怕而）屏息

rest after exercise to restore normal breathing

松一口气，歇一口气

don't hold your breath

(informal)used to indicate that something is unlikely to happen

(非正式)（用于表示某事不会发生）别憋着呼吸，别期望太高

Next thing you know I'll be knitting baby clothes. But don't hold your breath!.

还要告诉你一件事，我要编织娃娃穿的衣服了。不过不要抱太高期望。

draw breath

breathe in

吸气

get one's breath back

begin to breathe normally again after exercise or exertion

喘过气来，恢复正常呼吸

hold one's breath

cease breathing temporarily

屏气

in the — breath

used to refer to the place of a statement in a sequence of statements, typically one containing a contradiction or inconsistency

在…时

she admitted it but said in the same breath that it was of no consequence.

她承认了这件事同时却又说这并不重要。

the (或 one's) last breath

the last moment of one's life (often used hyperbolically); death

临终，濒死；死

she would fight to the last breath to preserve her good name.

为保护自己的清誉，她将斗争到底。

take breath

pause to recover free and easy breathing

歇口气，歇会儿透口气

take someone's breath away

astonish or inspire someone with awed respect or delight

使某人激动（或惊羡）得透不过气来

under (或 below) one's breath

in a very quiet voice; almost inaudibly

压低嗓子，低声地

he swore violently under his breath.

他压低嗓门恶骂。

waste one's breath

talk or give advice without effect

徒费唇舌，白说

I've far better things to do than waste my breath arguing.

我不会徒费唇舌辩论的，我还有更有意义的事情要做呢。