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used to say that you do not believe something will happen soon, if it happens at all
She promised to call me back today, but don't hold your breath.
She probably won’t call back today.
They said the meeting will start on time, but don’t hold your breath.
The meeting will likely start late.
Often used to express skepticism about a promise or expectation.
Use 'don't hold your breath' when you want to express doubt about someone's promise or expectation. It implies that the event is unlikely to happen soon, if at all.
This idiom is always used in the negative form ('don't hold your breath'). It is not used literally.
The phrase originates from the literal act of holding one's breath, which can only be sustained for a short time. Metaphorically, it conveys the idea of waiting for something that is unlikely to happen, emphasizing the futility of the expectation.
This idiom is used in informal contexts to express skepticism or doubt about a promise or future event. It is often used in response to an unrealistic or overly optimistic statement.