The established expression is “with bated breath,” used for waiting in an anxious or excited way. Cambridge records “bated” in this fixed phrase. “Baited breath” is a sound-based spelling confusion, not the form supported by the reviewed dictionary evidence.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionPhrases & Idioms
Quick answer
Write “with bated breath,” not “with baited breath”: “We waited with bated breath for the result.”
Key details
Canonical Formwith bated breath
Confusion Formbaited breath
Core Meaningin an anxious or excited way
Variants
with bated breath
Dictionary-supported standard form.
with baited breath
Sound-based confusion; not the reviewed dictionary form.
Further guidance
Correct Form
Cambridge records the fixed phrase “with bated breath.”
History Boundary
This guide establishes current form and meaning only; it does not claim an exact first printed use.
Meaning
The phrase describes anxious or excited anticipation.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
The established expression is “bad rap,” referring to severe criticism, an unfavorable judgment, or an unfair accusation depending on context. “Bad wrap” is not the standard spelling of that expression; “wrap” has its own unrelated meanings.
The established expression is “at someone’s beck and call,” meaning ready and willing to do whatever that person asks. “Beckon call” is a common mishearing or eggcorn, not the standard form of the idiom.
“Champing at the bit” and “chomping at the bit” are both used for being very eager or impatient to begin. Cambridge explicitly records champing/chomping as variants; “champing” reflects the older horse-related wording, while “chomping” is a widely accepted modern variant.
“Couldn’t care less” means not caring at all and is the clearest form across English varieties. Cambridge also records “could care less” as a US informal variant used with the same intended meaning, despite its literal wording appearing logically opposite.
The established adjective is “deep-seated,” meaning strongly rooted, firmly established, or difficult to change. “Deep-seeded” is a common reinterpretation when this meaning is intended, even though a literal seeded construction can occur in unrelated contexts.
The standard expression is “dog-eat-dog,” describing a situation in which people compete ruthlessly for their own advantage. “Doggy-dog” is a sound-based reinterpretation, not the standard form of the expression.
The established expression is “get away scot-free” or “escape scot-free,” meaning to avoid punishment or a penalty. “Scotch-free” is not the standard form; the word is “scot,” historically connected with a tax or payment.
The standard expression is “for all intents and purposes,” meaning essentially, practically, or in all important respects. “For all intensive purposes” is a common sound-based error and should be avoided in edited writing.
