under one's breath



under one's breath

Softly, in an undertone or whisper, as in "I can't stand one more minute of that music," she muttered under her breath. This idiom, first recorded in 1832, is probably a hyperbole, alluding to a sound that is softer than breathing.
See also: breath

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Jeetendra-Indian, Hindi, Marathi
TilTILDutch, Limburgish
TrÚC-Vietnamese
MaddieMAD-eeEnglish
Rumbidzai-Southern African, Shona
Maybelline-English (Rare)