What it means
In British slang, if you're gasping, you really want something right now, usually a drink, a tea, a cig, or sometimes food. It's not just mild fancying it, it's that dry-throated, slightly dramatic need where you're counting the seconds till you get it. Very common in the UK for thirst, a smoke, or a proper brew after a long day.
Usage examples
"She was gasping for a coffee by the time the meeting finally ended."
"Put the kettle on, I am absolutely gasping for a cup of tea."
"I have been on the train for four hours with no buffet car, I am absolutely gasping for a brew and a packet of cheese and onion when we finally pull into Crewe."
"Three back-to-back meetings without a break, by the time I escaped the boardroom I was gasping, even the office filter coffee tasted like a Michelin star pour."
"Been stuck in traffic for two hours, I'm gasping for a cold Coke."
Where it comes from
It comes from the literal verb gasp, as in struggling for air. In British and Irish speech, that image got stretched into everyday craving, especially for a drink, a smoke, or a cuppa when you want it right now. That figurative use has been around for ages and still sounds properly natural.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Guardian of Blossoming Innocence Official watcher of this expression
Tell me, what have you got for me?