ENGLISH
REFERENCE

out of thin air

idiom
Meaning

From nowhere or nothing; from a non-existent or unknown source.


Examples
SIMPLE

He suddenly produced a coin out of thin air.

CONTEXTUAL

The magician seemed to pull a white rabbit out of thin air during his performance.

COMPLEX

The witness claimed the suspect appeared out of thin air, leaving the investigators puzzled by the lack of physical evidence.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    air one's dirty laundry in public

    To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.

  2. 02

    air one's dirty linen in public

    Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.

  3. 03

    air out

    To expose to air; to leave open or spread out, as to allow odor or moisture to dissipate.

  4. 04

    air rage

    Aggressive, disruptive behaviour on an aircraft.

  5. 05

    air sandwich

    A strategy that has high-level direction and low-level operations, but little in the middle.

  6. 06

    blow hot air

    To engage in empty or exaggerated talk that lacks substance, credibility, or truth; to bluster.

  7. 07

    breath of fresh air

    Something relieving, refreshing, or new.

  8. 08

    build castles in the air

    To have any desire, idea, or plan that is unlikely to be realized; to imagine visionary projects or schemes; to have an idle fancy or a pipe dream; to daydream.

© 2026 English Reference