"Don't Hold Your Breath" is a song by American singer Nicole Scherzinger, taken from her debut album, Killer Love (2011).

The song began as a demo or reference track by American artists Timbaland and Keri Hilson, which leaked online in June 2010.

The final mixed and mastered version of "Don't Hold Your Breath" was released on March 10, 2011, through Interscope Records, preceding its parent album by one week.

"Don't Hold Your Breath" was written by a trio of American songwriters: Josh Alexander, Toby Gad, and Billy Steinberg.

It is an empowering independence anthem with lyrics that speak of rebuking the advances of an ex-lover, that features a pop and synth-pop production, with electro-pop beats and Eurodance stylings.

On the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart, "Don't Hold Your Breath" was blocked from number one by Jessica Sutta's single "Show Me".

As of March 2021, the song had sold over 621,000 copies, and been streamed over 14 million times in the UK, earning it a Platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

In Australia, "Don't Hold Your Breath" earned a 2× Platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Following the success of 2010's "Poison", which music critics called "one of last year's most amazing pop surprises", "Don't Hold Your Breath" was unveiled as the second single from Scherzinger's debut album Killer Love in January 2011.

[8] Musically, "Don't Hold Your Breath" is a pop and synth-pop song with electropop beats,[1][9] and stylistic influences from Eurodance.

[10] Bradley Stern from MTV Buzzworthy commented that the synth-pop production was typically Swedish, while Stereoboard noted that the song's electro-pop beat was distinctive.

[9][11] "Don't Hold Your Breath" was described by a reviewer for 4Music as a "sort-of-balled-but-not-really", but was not indicative of the rest of the album that was full of "fast 'n' furious club-friendly thumpers" and "proper belters".

[13] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy noted that "Don't Hold Your Breath" and "Poison" were "distinctly more pop [and] Eurodance" than Scherzinger's previous releases.

[18] Popjustice praised the choice of the color blue, adding that the image demonstrated a hint of personality: "Not a bad thing if you happen to be a popstar.

[24] Scherzinger performed "Don't Hold Your Breath" live for the first time on Dancing on Ice on March 7, 2011, and two days later on Loose Women.

[27] On May 14 2011, Scherzinger appeared at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, performing "Poison" and "Don't Hold Your Breath" while wearing a leather trenchcoat later revealing a neon bodysuit.

[29] She furthered performed the song in the US on July 13, for AMP Radio's Topless Summer Switch Party at Universal CityWalk.

[23] In September 2011, the singer appeared at the iHeartRadio Music Festival, performing "Don't Hold Your Breath" and "Club Banger Nation".

[32] On November 11, Scherzinger performed "Don't Hold Your Breath" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with backing from a full band.

"[9] Years after the song's release, when reviewing another Scherzinger single "On the Rocks" (2014), Helen Ho of Renowned for Sound opined that both "Poison" and "Don't Hold Your Breath" were "upbeat hits".

[35] The New Zealand Herald's Kirstin MacFarlane called "Don't Hold Your Breath" one of Killer Love's more enjoyable tracks.

[37][42][43] "Don't Hold Your Breath" would later be certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting sales and streams of 600,000 in the UK.

[49] "Don't Hold Your Breath" peaked at number 17 and was certified double platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for selling over 140,000 copies in Australia.

[52] On the US Hot Dance Club Play chart "Don't Hold Your Breath" fared better, peaking at number two, being held off of the top spot by Scherzinger's former bandmate Jessica Sutta's "Show Me".

The bridge sees the singer sitting in one the house's empty rooms, in an old armchair, and intersects some of the earlier carriage and bathroom scenes.

As she sings the lyric: 'The screen fades to black', the blanket seen earlier on falls in front of the camera, revealing a close-up shot of Scherzinger's face.