Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is prepositional phrase five. The prepositional
phrase today is "with bated breath. " Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. If
someone does something with bated breath, he or she does it
eagerly and with great anticipation. You know, very excitedly waiting for it or
almost like holding their breath waiting for it to happen. So that's what means. It
suggests that one is holding ones breath in suspense or fear. So they're probably
like (bated breath sounds ) kind of like that. That would be like with bated breath. You know just
before something happens. So they're they're holding their breath waiting.
Waiting to hear something. All right. Let's continue. The word "bated " in this
phrase is from an older abbreviated form of "abate" which we still have. It's a
formal word, but we still have the word abate today which means to become less in
intensity or less extreme. So it's really your breath which is actually coming
less in intensity. Because you're kind of (bated breath sounds ) kind of holding it like that. The origin
of the phrase comes directly from Shakespeare's, Merchant of Venice. Spoken
by the character , Shylock who was actually the bad guy in the play.
Shakespeare is given credit for coining this term. Okay. All right. And let's just
give several examples here. Example number one. That hopeful actress waited
with bated breath as they were about to announce the winner of the Best Actress
Award. And you know obviously she's probably one who was nominated for the
award. So she's looking in anticipation excited and (bated breath sounds ) you know, just before they
they announced it. Or number two. Fans looked on with bated breath as the
basketball went through the hoop to score the winning shot and win the
championship. So maybe somebody right at the last minute, the last second the ball
is in the air and it's going around ... especially if it circles around the hoop and
falls through. They're like (bated breath sounds) you know, and in
anticipation hoping that it goes through. Or number three here. Yeah. With bated
breath, she listens intently you know, very seriously as her boyfriend proposed
to her okay. Good. So anyway, I hope you got it. I hope it was clear. I hope it was
informative . Tank you for your time. Bye-bye.