Example: Ils ont couru à perdre haleine pour attraper le train.
Definition
"À perdre haleine" is a French expression meaning to do something with great intensity or effort, to the point of losing one's breath. It describes actions performed with extreme speed or exertion, as in running very fast to catch a train.
Translations
Out of breath
Sin aliento
Buiten adem
Sense alè
Außer Atem
Etymology
The phrase "à perdre haleine" literally translates to 'to lose breath.' It combines the preposition 'à' (to), the verb 'perdre' (to lose), and 'haleine' (breath). This expression vividly conveys the idea of physical exhaustion from intense activity. Did you know it is commonly used to emphasize the urgency or strenuousness of an action?
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"À perdre haleine" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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Out of breath