breathing room
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May 16, 2025
Breathing room means having enough space, time, or freedom to relax or think clearly. If your schedule is packed with back-to-back meetings, you have no breathing room. If a loan payment gets deferred for a month, that gives you breathing room.
The phrase works both literally and figuratively. In a crowded elevator, you literally lack breathing room. In a high-pressure job, you figuratively need it.
In business, “breathing room” often means financial cushion—enough cash reserves to survive a downturn without panic.
The phrase works both literally and figuratively. In a crowded elevator, you literally lack breathing room. In a high-pressure job, you figuratively need it.
In business, “breathing room” often means financial cushion—enough cash reserves to survive a downturn without panic.
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print
Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.
Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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