English Dictionary

breath and britches

noun

physically (implying extreme thinness) or, / in terms of character, accomplishments, etc. / (Southern US, figuratively) A man of no substance.

He took a deep breath before jumping into the water.

意味（1）

physically (implying extreme thinness) or,

[…] San Antonio Mexicans named Cisco and Pancho, both in black-market sombreros. They were skinny—all breath and britches—and short-timers, soon to go home.

意味（2）

in terms of character, accomplishments, etc.

“ […] I don’t know a blessed thing but planting. What does she expect me to do? Hire out as an overseer?”

“ […] I don’t know a blessed thing but planting. What does she expect me to do? Hire out as an overseer?” I would, Guy thought clearly, coldly; before I’d accept the slightest favor from anybody. But you haven’t got that, have you, Kil? Reckon you never were anything more than breath and britches.

意味（3）

(Southern US, figuratively) A man of no substance.

[…] Ah don’t want no trashy nigger, no breath-and-britches, lak Johnny Taylor usin’ yo’ body to wipe his foots on.