take one's breath away

Idioms and Phrases

Astonish or shock one, with pleasure, surprise, or some other emotion. For example, That beautiful display just takes my breath away . This idiom alludes to the way one holds one's breath when overcome with sudden emotion. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

They don’t take one’s breath away — although the sparkling East Colonnade, with its trees sprouting from snow banks, each branch glinting with tiny mirrored disks, is a magical and elegant welcome.

From Washington Post

The air at 4500 meters is so thin that just a few steps take one’s breath away.

From Science Magazine

“What can you expect, when you take one’s breath away, creeping in like a burglar, and letting cats out of bags like that? Get up, you ridiculous boy, and tell me all about it.”

From Literature

So we step into season 3 — one hard fought for by a social media campaign, don’t forget — with the understanding that amidst the laughter are hidden a few moments destined to shock and take one’s breath away.

From Salon

Mr. Will, why not recognize a person who composes in the tradition of Woody Guthrie, with strong influences of symbolist poets, who says what no one else is able to or does say, whose lyrics can take one’s breath away and yet who remains one of the last people to take himself too seriously?

From Washington Post

Related Words

• amaze
• astound
• awe
• bewilder
• confound
• confuse
• dazzle
• disconcert
• dismay
• dumbfound
• flabbergast
• overwhelm
• perplex
• rattle
• shock
• startle
• stun
• unsettle