ENGLISH
REFERENCE

up in the air

idiom
Meaning

Not yet resolved, finished, answered, decided or certain.


Examples
SIMPLE

Our holiday plans are still up in the air.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager said our promotion was up in the air until the budget review next month.

COMPLEX

With the contract negotiations up in the air and no clear deadline in sight, the entire project remained in a state of anxious uncertainty.

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.

Last updated April 17, 2026