English

Alternative forms

• breathing room, breathing-space

Noun

breathing space ‎(plural breathing spaces)

1. Sufficient space or a span of time in which to recover one's breath.
   • 1842, Thomas Babbington Macaulay, "Horatius", stanza 45:

     He reeled, and on Herminius

     He leaned one breathing-space;

     Then, like a wild cat mad with wounds,

     Sprang right at Astur's face.

2. A rest, pause, or respite.
3. Enough distance so that one can feel unfettered.

   Don't fret, in our division you get a lot of breathing space.

   • 2011 November 10, Jeremy Wilson, “England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report”, in Telegraph:

     Martin Kelly then finished with power to provide some breathing space before Craig Dawson’s scored his fourth goal in five England Under-21 appearances with a looping header.