in the air

1. 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.

2. 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 .

3. See up in the air . [Mid-1700s]

Example Sentences

The opening exchanges were mainly played out in the air, rather than on the turf.

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The city’s Office of Emergency Management said a ground stop is in effect through Friday evening at JFK International Airport because of staffing shortages in the air traffic systems.

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Those last words hung in the air for a while.

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Studies have found unsafe levels of chemicals in the air of such homes.

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But the attempt - the first in 53 years - was "not completely successful" due to the lack of moisture in the air.

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Related Words

• forthcoming 
• immediate 
• impending 
• inevitable 
• likely 
• looming 
• possible 
• probable 
• unavoidable