breath and britches

noun4

1. •
   (Southern-US) The minimal qualities that make one a person (especially a man), either
2. •
   (Southern-US, figurative) physically (implying extreme thinness) or,

   • […] San Antonio Mexicans named Cisco and Pancho, both in black-market sombreros. They were skinny—all breath and britches—and short-timers, soon to go home. — 1990
3. •
   (Southern-US, figurative) in terms of character, accomplishments, etc.

   • Man ain’t nothing but trouble, just breath and britches and trouble. Don’t let him feel all over you, now, don’t let a no-good man touch you, else he’ll big you up sho-nuff. — 1966
4. •
   (Southern-US, figurative) A man of no substance.

   • “[…] Ah don’t want no trashy nigger, no breath-and-britches, lak Johnny Taylor usin’ yo’ body to wipe his foots on.” — 1937