American vocab

[JibJib]

Do you guy say "breather," as in to catch your breath or relax for a minute or two? took a breather after skiing for two hours.

[Ronnie Danjer]

Re: American vocab

In Canada, yes, it is quite common. I would assume it is in America as well.

[Ronaldinho]

Re: American vocab

Common? I dunno.

But certainly it wouldn't stand out as being wrong or un-American in any way.

[Manchester]

Re: American vocab

Yes, also in the U.S.A.

[Fortean]

American Idiom

Do you guy say "breather," as in to catch your breath or relax for a minute or two? took a breather after skiing for two hours.

"Breather" may be more common for an older person, but I'd think that more young people, in Canada and in the States, would take a short "break".

[cshel]

Re: American vocab

Yes, it's a common term in the U.S.

After jumping up and down over and over again,

The little emoticon needed to stop for a breather,

because he smokes too much.

[TBEagle]

Re: American vocab

matters what part of america, for example in the south we say soda and in the north they say pop. WTF kind of word is "pop"
but yes, yes it is

[zenplato]

Re: American vocab

Do you guy say "breather," as in to catch your breath or relax for a minute or two? took a breather after skiing for two hours.

Actually, no...not in the context you are using it.

[zenplato]

Re: American vocab

If someone said,

"I took a breather after jogging this morning."

Most people would look at you weird because they wouldn't know that you mean relax.

It would sound more like a apparatus or slang for some drug/pill/drink.

[Archduke]

Re: American vocab

It's funny you actually said the more common way to make that statement in your question. People would most likely say "let me get a sec to catch my breath."

"Take five" is another common expression to mean a break.

[cshel]

Re: American vocab

Catch your breath or "rest" for a minute or two, is what I think he meant.

AFTER jogging, you wouldn't need a breather because you'd be done and could breathe all you want.

[Archduke]

Re: American vocab

matters what part of america, for example in the south we say soda and in the north they say pop. WTF kind of word is "pop"
but yes, yes it is

I think it must be Canadian/British influence because it's only the lingo in states close to the border.

I guess once upon a time back when everyone still called it soda pop they decided that soda pop was too long and so they had a conference to decide the new name. Half of them decided on Soda and the other half decided on Pop and that's why they call it Soda in America and Pop in Canada and Britain.

[cshel]

Re: American vocab

I think it must be Canadian/British influence because it's only the lingo in states close to the border.

I guess once upon a time back when everyone still called it soda pop they decided that soda pop was too long and so they had a conference to decide the new name. Half of them decided on Soda and the other half decided on Pop and that's why they call it Soda in America and Pop in Canada and Britain.

I grew up in L.A. where everyone seemed to call it soda, but my mom was from Wisconsin, and she always called it pop. Sometimes she'd use the original term, soda pop. She gradually started using the term soda instead. I think there are still regions of the U.S. where some people call it pop or soda pop. I don't have to use any term very often because I don't drink it.

[Archduke]

Re: American vocab

I grew up in L.A. where everyone seemed to call it soda, but my mom was from Wisconsin, and she always called it pop. Sometimes she'd use the original term, soda pop. She gradually started using the term soda instead. I think there are still regions of the U.S. where some people call it pop or soda pop. I don't have to use any term very often because I don't drink it.

I grew up in LA to and I guess because all Television and Movies are made in LA or NY I never even realized so much of the country called it something besides soda.

Apparently some people have investigated this serious and puzzling subject in depth:

http://www.bookofjoe.com/images/2008/08/26/uoioiu.jpg

Southerners apparently call all Soda Coke. This map raises more questions than it answers.

[nic.h]

Re: American vocab

For what it's worth, it would make perfect sense here, and is a common expression.

(But not after jogging. It's not literally about breathing. Just an alternative to "break".)