hot air

American  

noun

Informal.

1. empty, exaggerated, or pretentious talk or writing.

   His report on the company's progress was just so much hot air.

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hot air British  

noun

1. informal empty and usually boastful talk

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hot air Idioms  

1. Empty, exaggerated talk, as in That last speech of his was pure hot air. It is also put as full of hot air, as in Pay no attention to Howard—he's full of hot air. This metaphoric term transfers heated air to vaporous talk. [Late 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of hot air

1835–45 for literal sense

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hot air

Instead of air conditioning, Peach said there were "big blowers" on board, expelling hot air.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

The fan acts as a convection oven, an appliance that circulates hot air in order to cook food quickly and evenly.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

With all the hot air from computer servers, people resorted to the ancient device of paper fans and organizers placed large ice blocks all over the exhibition hall.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

And when the hot air is very wet or humid, like it was in June, it's more difficult for the body to cool down through sweating.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

The sky, as if in sympathy with the great changes among them, was different today and so misty that in some places the hot air seemed white.

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

Related Words

• wind