English Reference
Idiom idiom

vanish to the four winds


To disappear; to cease to exist.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

My keys vanished to the four winds this morning.

CONTEXTUAL

After the storm hit the coast, the small wooden boats vanished to the four winds.

COMPLEX

When the company declared bankruptcy, the employees' hopes for a bonus vanished to the four winds, leaving them with nothing but uncertainty.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    as the wind blows

    According to any given circumstances.

  2. 02

    break wind

    To expel gases generated during digestion, especially through the anus; to fart.

  3. 03

    candle in the wind

    A fragile or vulnerable thing, likely to be put in jeopardy.

  4. 04

    finger to the wind

    An attention to or focus on or awareness of current or prevailing trends, public opinion, or shifting circumstances.

  5. 05

    four score and seven years ago

    Used (sometimes sarcastically) to indicate that a past event being mentioned is particularly important: a long time ago; many years ago.

  6. 06

    four sheets to the wind

    Extremely drunk.

  7. 07

    get the wind up

    To become frightened or disturbed.

  8. 08

    get wind

    To be divulged; to become public.

Last updated August 10, 2026