hot breath

USAGE SUMMARY

"hot breath" is correct in written English and can be used in any sentence where its meaning is relevant.
For example, "He felt his girlfriend's hot breath on his neck as they kissed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Breathing from your throat will create hot breath, while blowing through your lips will create cool air.

WikiHow

Breathe out through your mouth, slowly, filling the cup with hot breath.

WikiHow

Breathe out, slowly, from your mouth, and quickly inhale the hot breath through your nose.

WikiHow

"Hot breath".

The New York Times - Magazine

I hate your hot breath.

The New York Times - Arts

But hot breath can be nice.

The New York Times

Hot breath, dried snot, flashing black eyes.

The New Yorker

She felt its hot breath on her bare legs.

The New Yorker

I could feel his hot breath on my face.

The New Yorker

He lay on top of me, and I felt his hot breath in my ear.

The New Yorker

I blew in, and felt the hot breath slowly push back into me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hot breath" to vividly describe physical closeness, fear, or intimacy between characters. It is excellent for adding sensory detail.

Common error

Avoid using "hot breath" when you mean halitosis. While "hot breath" describes temperature, halitosis describes odor. Be specific with your language to avoid unintended meanings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hot breath" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where 'hot' modifies the noun 'breath'. It denotes the sensation of warm air being exhaled. As seen in Ludwig, it’s used to describe a physical feeling or to create a sensory image.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

11%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hot breath" functions as a descriptive noun phrase frequently used to convey a sense of physical warmth, closeness, or potential threat. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable. Its usage spans from neutral news articles to intimate descriptions, with a primary function of adding sensory detail and vivid imagery. While generally acceptable, it's important to distinguish it from the concept of bad breath (halitosis) to avoid miscommunication. Whether describing a tender moment or a moment of fear, "hot breath" provides a direct, sensory way to communicate that feeling.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

warm respiration

Replaces 'hot' with 'warm' and 'breath' with its synonym 'respiration', slightly formalizing the phrase.

heated exhalation

Substitutes 'hot' with 'heated' and 'breath' with 'exhalation', giving a more technical feel.

feverish breath

Emphasizes the intensity of the heat, implying illness or strong emotion.

close proximity

Focuses on the feeling of someone being very near, implying you can feel their breath.

stuffy air

Shifts the focus to the air quality rather than the breath itself, suggesting a hot, enclosed space.

warm breeze

Conveys a gentle heat, changing 'breath' to a soft 'breeze'.

pungent breath

Alters the focus to a strong and sharp smell that could be caused by the breath.

halitosis

Replaces the descriptive term with a clinical term for bad breath.

heavy breathing

Focuses on the manner of breathing rather than the temperature, often implying exertion or arousal.

shortness of breath

Shifts the focus to difficulty in breathing, completely changing the original meaning.

FAQs

How can "hot breath" be used in a sentence?

"Hot breath" can be used to describe a sensation of warmth and proximity, as in "I could feel his hot breath on my face", or to create a sense of discomfort, as in "She felt the wolf's hot breath on her neck".

What phrases are similar to "hot breath"?

Similar phrases include "warm respiration", "heated exhalation", or "feverish breath", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "hot breath" in formal writing?

While "hot breath" is generally acceptable, consider the tone and audience. In formal writing, more precise or clinical terms like "warm respiration" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "hot breath" and bad breath?

"Hot breath" refers to the temperature of exhaled air, while bad breath (or halitosis) refers to an unpleasant odor. They are distinct concepts.