Getting the wind knocked out of you

Sometimes, when you are playing or doing something fun and active, you might get hit in the stomach really hard. When this happens, it can feel like you can't breathe for a little while. That's because getting hit in the stomach can push all the air out of your lungs really quickly, making them feel empty. When your lungs are empty, you can't breathe in any air until they fill back up again. This is what it means to get the wind knocked out of you. It's like someone pressed a big pause button on your breathing for a few seconds, until your lungs start working again and you can take in air normally. It can feel scary and uncomfortable, but it usually goes away pretty quickly and you'll be able to breathe normally again soon.