[General] he exclaimed under his breath

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

“My God!” exclaimed Chisholm, under his breath.” Carry!”

he exclaimed under his breath = he exclaimed in a whisper

V.

 

[Barb_D]

Yes.

Sometimes you do intend to for others to hear the things you say "under your breath" but you say it that way to acknowledge it's not the polite thing to say. Other times, you don't want others to hear you at all, but if you don't say it at all, you'll lose your mind.