Idiom: breathe a word

[Strawberry girl]

Test No. incompl/inter-42 "Keeping it Quiet", question 10

In view of the embarrassment that might be caused if the story came out, she promised not to ......... a word about it.

(a) send
(b) breathe
(c) mouth
(d) open

Test No. incompl/inter-42 "Keeping it Quiet", answer 10

In view of the embarrassment that might be caused if the story came out, she promised not to breathe a word about it.

Correct answer: (b) breathe

Your answer was: incorrect
In view of the embarrassment that might be caused if the story came out, she promised not to send a word about it.
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Hi,Alan
Could you explain this phrase"breath a word"?
I got a lot of useful phrase in your test.Thank you!

[Alan]

This means not say a word/ not mention a word about it at all.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Don't bank on it