A breath of fresh air

A waterfall in the forest.
Sometimes, you need to step out for a breath of fresh air.
(Photo: Good Free Photos/Unsplash | Text: David/ArtisanEnglish.jp)

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Phrase: A breath of fresh air

Hey, have you realized that today is Friday the thirteenth?

It was an awful day on October 13, 1307, if you were a Templar Knight in France.

However, we are not Templar Knights, 1307 has long passed, and we’re not going to talk about that right now.

With all of the spookiness involved in the US election, I think it’s time for a breath of fresh air.

Yes, this phrase can be taken literally.

If you are working in a stuffy office, sometimes you need to step out for a breath of fresh air.

I realize that’s hard to do if you are in Tokyo on the 33rd floor of an office tower, but here in Wakayama, it’s relatively easy to access the outdoors when you need it.

One thing I don’t understand is why some people say they need a breath of fresh air, step outside and light up a cigarette.

It defeats the purpose, don’t you think?


The second meaning of a breath of fresh air is someone or something that is a refreshing change from the normal.


So ladies, if you’re working in your office and a drop-dead gorgeous, tall, dark, and handsome young man with the body of a Greek God walks in, he is a breath of fresh air.

Likewise, we also say that a change is as good as a rest, so anytime you can change up your tasks or add a little variety to your day, it is regarded as a breath of fresh air.

If you’re always in the office and then one day have to travel, it may be a welcome change or, to use today’s phrase, a breath of fresh air.


Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test

This post is understandable by someone with at least a 7th-grade education (age 12).

On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 77.

The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.



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