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Definition of breathing space noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

breathing space

noun
 
/ˈbriːðɪŋ speɪs/
 
/ˈbriːðɪŋ speɪs/
(also breathing room (especially in North American English))
[countable, uncountable]
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  1. a short rest in the middle of a period of mental or physical effort
    • After finishing one job she needed a breathing space before starting the next.
    • This delay allows the party a breathing space in which to sort out its policies.
    • The extension of the deadline gives us a breathing space.
    Synonyms restrestbreak ▪ respite ▪ time out ▪ breathing spaceThese are all words for a short period of time spent relaxing.rest a period of relaxing, sleeping or doing nothing after a period of activity:
    • We stopped for a well-earned rest.
    break a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest or eat:
    • Let’s take a break.
    In British English break is a period of time between lessons at school. The North American English word is recess.    respite a short break from something difficult or unpleasant:
    • The drug brought a brief respite from the pain.
    time out (especially North American English, informal) time for resting or relaxing away from your usual work or studies:
    • Take time out to relax by the pool.
    breathing space a short rest in the middle of a period of mental or physical effort:
    • This delay gives the party a breathing space in which to sort out its policies.
    Patterns
    • (a) rest/​break/​respite/​time out from something
    • to have/​take (a) rest/​break/​time out
    • to give somebody (a) rest/​break/​respite/​breathing space
    More Like This Compound nouns with –ing formsCompound nouns with –ing forms
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adverb
 
 
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