out of breath

out of breath

1. Breathing with difficulty, in particular due to physical activity.

   We were all out of breath when we got to the summit.

   • c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene x], page 355, column 2:

     Cam. [i.e., Canidus.] Our Fortune on the Sea is out of breath,
     And ſinkes moſt lamentably. Had our Generall
     Bin what he knew himſelfe, it had gone well:
     Oh his [i.e., he] ha's giuen example for our flight,
     Moſt groſſely by his owne.
     Eno[barbus]. I, are you thereabouts? Why then goodnight indeede.

   • c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:

     But before al of them were assembled to begin their sports, there came a fellow, who being out of breath (or seeming so to be for haste) with humble hastines told Basilius, that his Mistres, the Lady Cecropia, had sent him to excuse the mischance of her beastes ranging in that dãgerous sort, being happened by the folly of the keeper; […]

   • 1735, James Melville, The Memoirs of Sir James Melvil of Halhill ..., page 182:

     Which Soldiers with their continual Shot, killed divers of the Vauntguard led by the Hamiltons, who courageously and fiercely ascending up the Hill, were already out of Breath when the Regent's Vauntguard joined with them.

   • 2008, David Joutras, A Ghost in the World, page 55:

     When at last we stopped in a tumble of bodies on the grass, laughing, and in Dad's case, out of breath, we were like little kids (I mean 5 or 6! After all I am 12!) at the end of a playground session.

   • 2018, Ravi Struck, Josh Weisman, Pirates of the Seven Seas: Book One: Gromund's Tales, BookBaby, →ISBN:

     He was always scared that he wouldn't return. Aaroo, Aaroo” howled Dunchest until he was out of breath and then he began to whimper realizing Cutlass was not coming back until the mission was over.