draw a sigh

USAGE SUMMARY

"draw a sigh" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is an idiom that means to express feelings of deep sadness, resignation, or longing. Examples: "I drew a sigh as I watched my beloved cat pass away." "As the leaves began to fall, I drew a sigh, knowing another winter was coming."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

THE title of this new novel by Portugal's Nobel Prize winner will very likely draw a sigh of despondency from many a reader.

The New York Times - Books

Markets are likely to draw a sigh of relief once the trial is over.

Forbes

I don't consider myself superstitious, I walk under ladders all the time, but with the passing of each April 29th, I draw a sigh of relief.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He would get a chance to help people, he says, and for a moment the universal appeal of that profession to children draws a sigh of relief.

The New York Times

So when Mr Ghani's new security adviser, Hanif Atmar, and the American ambassador James Cunningham put down their signatures, many drew a sigh of relief.International soldiers are now set to stay until 2016.

The Economist

As the sun fell toward New Jersey, it pushed the Manhattan skyline into silhouette, poured an orange light over the Brooklyn Bridge anchorage and drew a sigh from Ms. Krolik.

The New York Times

The ruling drew a sigh of relief from the tech community, but the victory was short-lived.

TechCrunch

Technology stocks are set to rebound in early trading today as the market draws a sigh of relief over signs of a slowdown in the economy.

Forbes

Amid one of the worst technology bloodbaths in history, many analysts on Wall Street are quietly drawing a sigh of relief.

Forbes

Stocks shot up around midday in New York, led by financial and retail shares, as Wall Street drew a sigh of relief over this morning's much anticipated jobless report.

Forbes

Technology stocks defied the rest of the market and continued to rise Wednesday as investors drew a sigh of relief over the Federal Reserve's decision to stay neutral on monetary policy.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Enhance the impact of "draw a sigh" by pairing it with descriptive adjectives, such as "draw a weary sigh" or "draw a heartfelt sigh", to amplify the conveyed emotion.

Common error

Avoid using "draw a sigh" when intending to express pure happiness or excitement; this phrase usually implies a subdued or reflective emotion like sadness or relief.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "draw a sigh" functions as a verbal phrase within a sentence, typically acting as the main verb or part of the predicate. It depicts the action of expressing an emotion through a deep breath. Ludwig AI provides several examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "draw a sigh" is a grammatically sound and idiomatic phrase used to describe the act of expressing emotions like sadness, relief, or weariness through a deep breath. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is frequently found in news and media, indicating its suitability for conveying emotional tones in writing. While alternatives like "let out a sigh" or "heave a sigh" exist, "draw a sigh" provides a distinct and expressive way to depict emotional responses. Be mindful of the emotional context to ensure accurate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

let out a sigh

This alternative focuses on the act of releasing breath, similar to expressing an emotion through a sigh.

heave a sigh

Similar to 'let out a sigh', it emphasizes the physical action of sighing, suggesting a deep or labored breath.

emit a sigh

This phrase is a more formal way of saying 'draw a sigh', focusing on the emission of breath as an expression.

utter a sigh

This alternative highlights the vocal aspect of sighing, emphasizing the sound produced.

give a sigh

Focuses on the action of producing a sigh, similar to 'draw a sigh'.

express with a sigh

Shifts the focus to the emotion being expressed, with the sigh acting as a vehicle for that expression.

sigh deeply

This alternative emphasizes the intensity of the sigh, indicating a strong emotion.

audibly sigh

Highlights the audibility of the sigh, suggesting it's loud enough to be heard.

sigh with relief

Specifies the emotion associated with the sigh, in this case, relief.

sigh with resignation

Like 'sigh with relief', this specifies the emotion, but here it's resignation.

FAQs

What does "draw a sigh" mean?

"Draw a sigh" is an idiomatic expression that means to express a feeling of sadness, disappointment, relief, or weariness through a long, audible exhalation.

How can I use "draw a sigh" in a sentence?

You can use "draw a sigh" to describe someone expressing their emotions. For example, "She "drew a sigh" of relief when the exam was over".

What are some alternatives to "draw a sigh"?

Some alternatives to "draw a sigh" include "let out a sigh", "heave a sigh", or simply "sigh" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "draw a sigh of relief"?

Yes, it's perfectly correct. Adding "of relief" clarifies the emotion behind the sigh, indicating that it was prompted by a sense of alleviation from stress or worry. You can replace "relief" with other nouns or adjectives based on context.