out of thin air
Meaning: Appearing from nowhere, as if by magic.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The magician made a dove appear out of thin air.”
Category: Nature
Origin: Shakespeare's The Tempest has Prospero's spirits melt "into thin air." The reverse form, "out of thin air," is found from the 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Polish: wziąć z sufitu — literally: to take from the ceiling
- French: Par l'opération du Saint-Esprit — literally: By the operation of the Holy Spirit
More idioms — Nature
- be at a low ebb — To be in a poor or weak state.
- the four corners of the earth — Every part of the world.
- like a bolt from the blue — Completely unexpected, usually of bad news.
- hearts and flowers — Excessive sentimentality.
- a slippery slope — A small step that leads to worse and worse consequences.
- separate the wheat from the chaff — To distinguish what is valuable from what is worthless.
More English idioms
- sit on the fence — To avoid taking sides.
- take an ax to — To cut something drastically, especially spending or jobs.
- in the crosshairs — Targeted for attack, criticism or scrutiny.
- hand in hand — Closely together; in close association.
- butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth — Someone looks innocent or proper, but probably is not.
- raise a hue and cry — To make a loud public protest.
From our compliments & insults
- Du hast doch einen Vogel — You're a bit out of your mind.
- Du gehst mir auf den Keks — You're getting on my nerves.
- Schlaumeier — A smart aleck or know-it-all.