in the air

Definitions

1. In the surrounding ambience.
2. In the generally prevailing feeling, idea, atmosphere, or mood.
3. Prevalent without traceable origin or authority.
4. Not in a fixed or stable position; unsettled; up in the air.
5. Unsupported and liable to be turned or taken in flank.

Equivalents

Examples

“As soon as we entered we could feel⟳ the excitement and tension in the air.”

“You may not know⟳ La Baule. Think⟳ of it as Bognor Regis. Now, you may have⟳ spent half your life there, but I do not believe⟳ you ever heard Beethoven playing in the air.”

“Polo was nothing if golf were in the air!”

“But capital was proving difficult to raise⟳; rumours were in the air that the G.W.R. and L.S.W.R. were about to patch up their quarrel, and the people of Southampton, who twelve months earlier had staged a torch-light procession to celebrate⟳ the passing of the D.N.S.R. Act, were increasingly loath to part with their cash.”

“I can feel⟳ it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord.”

“MAHER: Well, whatever. I just said we shouldn't have⟳ two national anthems. We're one country. It's not a good idea. We've seen what happens in other countries where you have⟳, you know⟳- when you separate⟳ things out. That's never where America was. That's never where liberalism was. It was about being a colorblind society. So, a new national anthem? Fine. I'll go for that. But not two. Because that leads down a road we don't wanna go. Applause. KIMMEL: Do you feel⟳ like⟳... MAHER: Thank⟳ you. KIMMEL: Hey there's a lot of fear in the air and generally, you don't want⟳ to be caught applauding something that might be controversial. MAHER: I couldn't give⟳ a fuck. KIMMEL: I wasn't talking about you.”

“There was a rumour about them in the air.”

“The army had its wing in the air.”

CEFR level