bellows to mend
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Register: slang
Examples
This constitutes the process of respiration or breathing, and on its due performance will chiefly depend the health and usefulness of the animal. A horse calling “bellows-to-mend” is fit for little.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
a person out of breath; especially a pugilist is said to be "BELLOWS TO MEND" when winded. With the P.R., the word has fallen into desuetude.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “bellows to mend” mean?
out of breath
Is “bellows to mend” formal or informal?
bellows to mend is generally slang.