breathtaking help

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "breathtaking help" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used to describe assistance that is exceptionally impressive or surprising, but it may require additional context to clarify its meaning. Example: "The team's breathtaking help during the crisis made all the difference in our recovery efforts."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka are, defensively speaking, most effective around the basket, where the former's brute strength and the latter's breathtaking help defense (Ibaka led the league in blocked shots, finishing second in the vote for defensive player of the year honors behind Tyson Chandler) allow the Thunder wings to be more aggressive on the perimeter and in hawking passing lanes.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Trout's talents are breathtaking, helping his team in many different ways.

The New York Times - Sports

Nichizo's pictorially breathtaking odyssey involves help from both monks and demons, a pause to pray in a cave (dragon notwithstanding) and braving a fabulous fire-breathing monster with eight heads and nine tails who guards the fiery furnace that is hell.

The New York Times

12. River Cafe ** [Rating: Two Stars] [phone] 1 Water Street Fulton Ferry district, Brooklyn $$$$ All major cards By virtue of geography, the River Cafe can't help being breathtaking.

The New York Times - Arts

8. River Cafe ** [Rating: 2 stars] [phone] 1 Water Street, at Fulton Landing Brooklyn $$$$ All major cards By virtue of geography, the River Cafe can't help being breathtaking.

The New York Times - Arts

It features breathtaking photographs designed to help the reader delight in the world around us.  .

Huffington Post

GOES-16 was launched by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in November and went online in January; though the data and imagery it sends back are marked "preliminary" and "non-operational," the information is so breathtaking that NOAA can't help but show it off anyway.

The New Yorker

Though it's a little less common to paint a concrete floor than it is to paint a concrete wall or ceiling, some decorators can create breathtaking interior spaces with the help of painted concrete floors.

WikiHow

JA Ben Stokes' catch off Stuart Broad at Trent Bridge – it helped turn a breathtaking spell of cricket into something almost ethereal.

The Guardian - Sport

Stung by negative publicity over its opulence, leaders have swept out Western-leaning decision makers who once helped drive the breathtaking ambitions of Dubai's ruler, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

The New York Times

Over the next two years, Mr. McCain helped uncover a breathtaking lobbying scandal — Mr. Abramoff and a partner bilked six tribes of $66 million — that showcased the senator's willingness to risk the wrath of his own party to expose wrongdoing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "breathtaking help", ensure the context clearly conveys that the assistance was remarkably impressive or surprisingly effective. Consider using it to describe a decisive act of aid during a critical situation.

Common error

Avoid using "breathtaking help" to describe ordinary or routine assistance. Reserve this phrase for truly exceptional acts of aid to maintain its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breathtaking help" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "breathtaking" modifies the noun "help". It describes the quality of the assistance provided, emphasizing its remarkable and awe-inspiring nature. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is not commonly used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "breathtaking help" is a grammatically correct but uncommon way to describe assistance that is exceptionally impressive. While understandable, it's important to use this phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations where the help truly warrants such strong praise. Ludwig suggests that the phrase can sound awkward and provides alternatives such as "incredible assistance" or "amazing support". While sources like The New York Times and The Guardian use this phrase, writers should be mindful of the context and consider whether a more common alternative would be more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

astonishing assistance

Replaces "breathtaking" with "astonishing", indicating a high degree of surprise and wonder at the help provided.

remarkable aid

Uses "remarkable" instead of "breathtaking", suggesting the help is noteworthy and exceptional.

extraordinary support

Substitutes "breathtaking" with "extraordinary", highlighting that the help goes beyond the ordinary.

incredible assistance

Employs "incredible" to emphasize the unbelievable or outstanding nature of the help.

amazing support

Replaces "breathtaking" with "amazing", indicating a strong feeling of wonder and approval for the support.

unparalleled aid

Uses "unparalleled" to indicate that the help is unmatched or unprecedented.

impressive assistance

Substitutes "breathtaking" with "impressive", focusing on the admirable quality of the help.

outstanding support

Employs "outstanding" to convey that the support is prominent and excellent.

magnificent aid

Replaces "breathtaking" with "magnificent", suggesting that the help is grand and splendid.

superb assistance

Uses "superb" to emphasize the excellent quality of the assistance.

FAQs

What does "breathtaking help" mean?

The phrase "breathtaking help" describes assistance that is remarkably impressive, surprising, or effective in a way that leaves one in awe. It implies the help was exceptional and perhaps unexpected.

What can I say instead of "breathtaking help"?

You can use alternatives like "astonishing assistance", "remarkable aid", or "extraordinary support" to convey a similar meaning depending on the context.

Is "breathtaking help" grammatically correct?

Yes, "breathtaking help" is grammatically correct, but it's not a commonly used phrase. While understandable, consider using more common alternatives for clearer communication.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "breathtaking help"?

Use "breathtaking help" when you want to emphasize that the assistance provided was extraordinarily impressive or surprisingly effective, going above and beyond typical expectations. Ensure the context supports the use of such a strong descriptor.