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Second wind

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A sudden renewal of energy or strength after fatigue; athletic metaphor describing runner finding second burst of stamina, applied to recovering vigor during prolonged exertion.

Detailed Definition
Second wind means renewed energy, strength, or resolve after fatigue, discouragement, or near defeat. In poetry, the idiom can describe runners, workers, mourners, activists, lovers, or artists who recover momentum unexpectedly. The breath image connects endurance with bodily rhythm, making revival feel physical as well as emotional. A poet may use it after a crisis or lull, where hope returns not as innocence but as stamina. It is useful for themes of resilience, recovery, and late-stage courage.
Example
Example in poetry:
A race poem might give the tired runner a second wind as the crowd begins to sing; In a grief poem, friendship gives the speaker a second wind after long sorrow; The phrase means renewed energy after exhaustion; A poet can use it for recovery and perseverance.
Additional Notes
Second wind means renewed energy after fatigue, originally from breath recovering during exertion. In poetry, it can be used for running, illness, ageing, activism, creativity, or emotional endurance. The breath image is powerful: life returns not as new beginning but as continuation after depletion. Students should notice how the idiom differs from effortless success. It values persistence through tiredness and pairs well with lungs, roads, hills, and late light.
Also Known As
renewed energy
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