in the air
Idioms-
In addition to the following idiom, also see castles in the air; leave hanging (in the air); nose in the air; up in the air.
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In circulation, in people's thoughts. For example, There's a rumor in the air that they're closing , or Christmas is in the air . [Second half of 1800s] Also see in the wind .
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See up in the air . [Mid-1700s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"There's no visible dust or smoke in the air, but these particles are forming."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
Late Tuesday, Mahan aircraft were in the air flying to Moscow and to Guangzhou, an industrial hub in southern China, according to the aircraft-tracking website Flightradar24.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
They say safety is always the top priority and that everyone in the air works together to avoid problems.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Evans said that Russell "loves to celebrate him and she's his biggest supporter", and was "just cheering, whooping, hands in the air" after his award wins.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
He released me then and backed away, his hands in the air again.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
