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3. come up for air

come up for air

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come up for air

 

1. Lit. to lift one's head out of the water to breathe. After staying under water for almost a minute, Jason had to come up for air.

2. Fig. to stop what one is doing for a different activity or rest. Whenever you get off the phone and come up for air, I have a question for you. I want you to go to the store for me when you come up for air.

3. Fig. to stop kissing for a moment and breathe. Don't those kids ever come up for air? When are you two going to come up for air?

See also: air, come, up

come up for air

in. to pause for a break. The kissers—being only human—had to come up for air eventually. They were taking in money so fast at the box office that there wasn’t a minute to come up for air.

See also: air, come, up