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Word 1623 of 2920

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胸を撫で下ろす

むねをなでおろす

to breathe a sigh of relief

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 無事と知って胸を撫で下ろした。

    ぶじとしってむねをなでおろした。

    I sighed with relief knowing they were safe.

  2. 合格の知らせに家族も胸を撫で下ろした。

    ごうかくのしらせにかぞくもむねをなでおろした。

    The family too breathed a sigh of relief at the news that he had passed.

  3. 手術が成功し、ほっと胸を撫で下ろした。

    しゅじゅつがせいこうし、ほっとむねをなでおろした。

    The surgery succeeded and I felt a wave of relief.

Common patterns

ほっと胸を撫で下ろす
to breathe a sigh of relief
無事を知って胸を撫で下ろす
to be relieved to learn someone is safe
一同胸を撫で下ろす
everyone present was relieved

Memory tip

The image is stroking your chest downward to settle a pounding heart. It is used after a worry is resolved, so it almost always appears in the past tense; for ongoing calm use 安心している instead.

Kanji in this word

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What does 胸を撫で下ろす mean?