I found I had made the mistake it said is commonly made (whew, not alone), which is to spell it as “baited breath”, so I felt better but still THEN wondered how “bated” breath came about which was expertly explained as deriving from a variation of “to abate” so “with bated breath” meant to be in a state of suspenseful anticipation. I knew that but with the spelling wrong had wondered where/how it came from. Thanks for clearing up that big mystery and taking my mind temporarily off the tornados, floods, fires, nuclear plant forebodings, comets and sunspots bombarding us, earthquakes, etc. etc. etc.
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, natvlegl, we’re glad you found us and glad to have you with us. And glad that you enjoyed the column.
Minor technical hiccup: this wasn’t a column by Cecil, but a Staff Report by Terey (who, alas, doesn’t post here much anymore.) Hence, I’m moving your post to the more appropriate forum.
No biggie, and (as I say), welcome, and we’ll be waiting for your next post with… um…
Also, the distinction between breath “baited” for mouse (cheese might do it, mmm, tasty, til the mouse jumps in), and “baited” for fish (eeeewwww! Worms, again, Ma? Can’t we have real food, for a change? The fish ain’t going to jump into our mouths!).
No, samclem, interesting hypothesis. Terey was one of the original members in the good ole days of AOL and chat rooms and such. She took on SDSAB when it was founded, but has decided over the years that real life was more amusing than the SDMBs.
