wheeze
C2informal (medical meaning neutral/formal; extended meaning informal)
Definition
Meaning
A whistling, breathy sound made when breathing with difficulty, often due to illness or obstruction.
A clever or amusing trick, scheme, or idea; a gimmick, especially one that is slightly old-fashioned or hackneyed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The medical sense describes a physical symptom. The extended, informal sense (common in UK English) implies ingenuity but also slight absurdity or staleness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The extended meaning ('clever scheme') is primarily British. In American English, 'wheeze' is almost exclusively used for the breathing sound.
Connotations
UK: medical (neutral), humorous/clever idea (informal, often slightly dated). US: Primarily medical/physiological.
Frequency
The extended sense is significantly more frequent in UK English corpora.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + wheezeSubject + wheeze + with + noun (e.g., laughter, effort)Subject + wheeze + adverb (e.g., painfully, slightly)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The old wheeze about...”
- “It's not a new wheeze”
- “crack a wheeze (UK, dated)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; UK informal: 'Their latest marketing wheeze failed to impress investors.'
Academic
Clinical/medical texts: 'The patient presented with expiratory wheeze.'
Everyday
Describing difficulty breathing or a simple trick: 'I get a wheeze when I have a cold.' / (UK) 'He came up with a funny wheeze for the party.'
Technical
Pulmonology: 'Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing caused by narrowed airways.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- After the sprint, he could only wheeze an apology.
- The comedian's old wheezing joke got a polite chuckle.
- The old vacuum cleaner wheezed into life.
American English
- The smoke made her chest tighten and wheeze.
- He began to wheeze from the pollen allergy.
adverb
British English
- He laughed wheezily. (Note: 'wheezily' is the standard adverbial form)
American English
- The patient breathed wheezily.
adjective
British English
- He gave a wheezy laugh. (Note: 'wheezy' is the standard adjectival form)
- It was a wheeze idea from the start.
American English
- The doctor noted his wheezy breathing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandpa has a cough and a wheeze.
- The dog ran so fast he started to wheeze.
- She could hear a distinct wheeze in his chest.
- The cold air made him wheeze as he stepped outside.
- The doctor listened for a wheeze as a sign of bronchospasm.
- His latest business wheeze involved selling customised socks online.
- The novel's plot hinges on a rather convoluted wheeze involving mistaken identity.
- Persistent wheezing, especially at night, is a key diagnostic indicator for asthma.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'WHEEze' – the sound you might make saying "WHEE!" on a slide if you were out of breath.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MACHINE/OBJECT UNDER STRAIN ('The old car wheezed up the hill'), AN IDEA AS A TOY/GADGET (UK: 'a clever wheeze').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите informal UK 'wheeze' (идея) как "хрип".
- "Хрипеть" в русском шире; для "wheeze" нужен именно свистящий звук.
- Будьте осторожны с контекстом: медицинский vs. разговорный британский.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'wheeze' (high-pitched whistle) with 'rattle' or 'groan'.
- Using the informal UK sense in formal or American contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'wheeze' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While often medical, it can describe any difficult, whistling breath, e.g., from laughter, exhaustion, or dust.
Yes. 'He had a wheeze' (noun). 'He began to wheeze' (verb).
No, it is very rare and would likely confuse American listeners. It is primarily a British informal usage.
A 'gasp' is a sudden, sharp intake of breath (often from surprise). A 'wheeze' is a prolonged, whistling sound during both inhalation and exhalation, indicating constriction.