How to use "breathtaking beauty"

What Does "breathtaking beauty" Mean?

• The expression "breathtaking beauty" describes something that is exceptionally beautiful, awe-inspiring, and stunning. It suggests a beauty so profound that it can almost take your breath away.
• The meaning is compositional. "Breathtaking" modifies "beauty," intensifying its impact. While the specific combination is common, the individual words retain their standard meanings.
• The register is generally neutral, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though leaning towards the more descriptive and evocative side of neutral.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: adjective + noun
• Typical objects: The phrase usually refers to natural landscapes (mountains, oceans), works of art (paintings, music), or even sporting achievements.
• The components cannot be separated. You wouldn't insert words between "breathtaking" and "beauty."
• What sounds unnatural: Using a weak adjective like "nice beauty" or an incompatible noun like "breathtaking ugliness" would be incorrect.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from breathtaking beauty on Ludwig.guru.

"It was a strike of breathtaking beauty." — The New York Times - Sports

"The images portray breathtaking beauty surrounded by silence." — Nature

"And it contains passages of breathtaking beauty and surprising ordinariness." — The Guardian

"Yemen, a country of breathtaking beauty, with wonderful people, is a human development disaster." — The New York Times

"Apart from its breathtaking beauty, immersing yourself in the Wadi Mujib is a ferociously fun activity." — The Guardian - Travel

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/breathtaking+beauty

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
stunning beauty	Very similar in meaning and register.
exquisite beauty	Implies a refined and delicate beauty.
awe-inspiring beauty	Emphasizes the feeling of awe and wonder.
remarkable beauty	Highlights the unusual or noteworthy quality of the beauty.
sublime beauty	Suggests a beauty that inspires reverence and a sense of the infinite.
sheer beauty	Emphasizes the purity and unadulterated nature of the beauty.
unparalleled beauty	Suggests that the beauty is unmatched and unique.

Common Mistakes

• Replacing "breathtaking" with weaker synonyms like "very" or "pretty" diminishes the impact and sounds unnatural: "very beautiful beauty" is redundant and incorrect.
• Using the phrase to describe something inherently ugly or unpleasant is contradictory and illogical.
• Separating the words, while grammatically possible in some contexts with other adjectives, is not idiomatic with this particular collocation.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
breathtaking beauty	Exceptionally beautiful and awe-inspiring	adjective + noun	Neutral

FAQs

Can I separate the words in "breathtaking beauty" with other words?

No, the collocation "breathtaking beauty" functions as a fixed phrase. Inserting words between "breathtaking" and "beauty" would disrupt the flow and sound unnatural; it needs to stay together to convey its intended meaning.

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How is "breathtaking beauty" different from "stunning beauty"?

While both phrases describe something exceptionally beautiful, "breathtaking beauty" emphasizes the awe-inspiring and almost overwhelming nature of the beauty, suggesting it's so beautiful it takes your breath away. "Stunning beauty" is slightly less intense, focusing more on the visual impact.

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What's wrong with saying "very beautiful beauty" instead of "breathtaking beauty"?

Saying "very beautiful beauty" is redundant and lacks the impact of "breathtaking beauty." The word "breathtaking" encapsulates a higher degree of beauty and carries a stronger emotional weight than simply saying something is "very beautiful"; it's a more vivid and effective way to express intense admiration.