Definition of with bated breath
: in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen They waited for the answer on their application with bated breath.
Why do we say with bated breath?
Bated breath first appeared in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice in 1605. Using a shortened form of abated, which means "stopped or reduced," the phrase refers to people holding their breath in excitement or fear as they wait to see what happens next.
Which is correct bated breath or baited breath?
A The correct spelling is actually bated breath but it's so common these days to see it written as baited breath that there's every chance that it will soon become the usual form, to the disgust of conservative speakers and the confusion of dictionary writers.
