Bated Breath: from Shakespeare?

I thought it was baited breath as I looked this up which might have meant Mouthwash prepared waiting.

However, because it is old English it actually meant "Abated Breath" which is a completely different thing.

 

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"Bated breath" means to wait anxiously or in suspense, with your breath held in a state of excited anticipation. The correct spelling is "bated" (a shortened form of "abated," meaning lessened or held back), not "baited" (which refers to using bait, as in fishing). The phrase was popularized by William Shakespeare. 

• Meaning:

  To wait with eager anticipation, excitement, or nervousness, as if holding your breath because you are so focused on what will happen next. 

Spelling:

The correct spelling is "bated." It comes from the verb "abate," which means to lessen or hold back. The confusion with "baited" is common, but having breath that has been "baited" does not make sense in this context. 

Origin:

The idiom was coined by William Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice. 

Example:

"The entire common room waited with bated breath to hear the results of the Quidditch match". 

• "bated breath" vs. "baited breath" : Pardon the Expression

  You'll breathe easier once you master this frequently misused phrase. Bated breath first appeared in Shakespeare's Merchant of Ven...

  

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WITH BATED BREATH Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

idiom. : in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen. They waited for the answer on their application with bated ...

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WITH BATED BREATH Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com

3 days ago — Eagerly or anxiously, as in We waited for the announcement of the winner with bated breath. This expression literally me...

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