save one's breath

verb

To refrain from speech; to be quiet, especially where it would have no useful effect to speak.

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Meanings

verbsave one's breath (third-person singular simple present saves one's breath, present participle saving one's breath, simple past and past participle saved one's breath)

present singular third person saves one's breath · participle present saving one's breath · participle past saved one's breath · past saved one's breath

  1. idiomaticimperativeTo refrain from speech; to be quiet, especially where it would have no useful effect to speak.

    If you're going to start in on me about coming back into the company — save your breath. There's no room here for me and you know it.

    1979, Garson Kanin, Moviola

Translations

Hungarian kár a gőzért
  • kár a gőzértto refrain from speech
Cite this entry
APA

save one's breath. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/save%20one's%20breath

MLA

“save one's breath.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/save%20one's%20breath. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “save one's breath,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/save%20one's%20breath.

Source: save one's breath on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.