Definition of "breathing space" [breathing space]

• Breathing room. (noun)
• A breathing spell. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• ""This short extension for three months will provide a breathing space for the Fiji industry while new arrangements under SPARTECA to support industry adjustment are finalised," said Mr Downer."
• "Patriot reiterates his “sincere Intention to calm and heal, not to blow up and inflame, any Party-Divisions”; but even the task of defending the British Constitution could not stifle Fielding's wit, and he escapes, for breathing space as it were, into a column devoted to the news items of the week, gathered from various papers, and adorned by comments of his own, printed in italics."
• "We gave the bulls a breathing space there, for we knew we had them all nicely rounded up in the killing-pens, and there was no hurry."