Don't hold your breath
Meaning
Don't expect something to happen soon, or at all, because it is very unlikely.
Origin
The physical act of holding one's breath is an ancient, involuntary reaction to intense anticipation or suspense, a moment of stillness where time seems to pause. This primal human response provides the grim, underlying logic for "Don't hold your breath." The phrase itself, though, took its idiomatic form in the early 20th century, painting a vivid, almost morbid picture: if you were to literally cease breathing while waiting for a highly improbable event, you'd surely succumb to lack of oxygen long before your wish came true. It's a stark, compelling warning that cuts through false hope, reminding us that some expectations are so unrealistic, they're literally life-threatening to maintain.
Examples
- They said they'd give us a raise next quarter, but don't hold your breath; I've heard that before.
- If you're waiting for John to apologize for being late, don't hold your breath; he rarely admits fault.