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

Find the source of hot air, spot the killer news, and don’t speculate.

From The Wall Street Journal

In December this column warned, “I’d also watch Japanese bond yields as yen carry trades may be the source of the stock market’s hot air. For crypto too.”

From The Wall Street Journal

He recalled donning tuxedos and carrying toy guns pretending to be James Bond on a European yacht vacation and soaring over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon during an East African safari.

From Los Angeles Times

In the summer, it can lead to droughts but also heatwaves as hot air is drawn in from the south-east.

From BBC

It continued up his arm until it reached his shoulder, where it settled down with a little sigh that sent a puff of hot air across his cheek.

From Literature

Related Words

• wind