rifiatare

to catch one's breath

verb ree-fyah-TAH-reh Rare

Also means

to get a break

Usage Note

Rifiatare literally means to breathe again (ri- + fiatare) and is commonly used in the negative to mean someone will not get a moment's rest: 'non ti lascio rifiatare' (I won't give you a chance to breathe). It takes avere as auxiliary.

Examples

"Non ci hanno lasciato rifiatare un momento."

Natural Translation

They didn't let us catch our breath for a moment.

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