Re: Origins of "Waiting with baited breath'.

Posted by Bruce Kahl on May 23, 2000

In Reply to: Origins of "Waiting with baited breath'. posted by Debbie Raschko on May 23, 2000

The phrase means anxiously or with great anticipation.

I don't remember and can't find my source on this but I think that "Bated" is a shortened version of "abated", which means "to slow down". In the case of "bated breath" this would mean to slow down your breathing or hold your breath.
Curiously, people hold their breath when in anticipation. Perhaps so as not to be distracted by breathing.

"Bated" is no longer commonly used, causing people to believe the expression to be "with baited breath". This common misspelling leads to confusion and strange imagery.

Maybe some other contributors can verify all of this.

• Re: Origins of "Waiting with baited breath'. James Briggs 05/23/00