off the air

Idioms

Not being broadcast, as in Once they knew they were off the air, the panelists burst out laughing. This idiom, along with the antonym on the air (“being broadcast”), dates from the 1920s, air being considered a medium for radio-wave transmission.

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.

After going off the air, the show was later revived and returned to TV in 2015.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

The show was later restored after a week off the air.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

But if CBS execs lose their patience, it’s conceivable that the network can pull him off the air and use guest hosts until the end of the program’s run.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Africa 24, founded by Cameroon national Constant Nemale and covering news across the continent, is the first international media to be taken off the air by the authorities.

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

"It went off the air," Mr. Das explained.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023