thin air

USAGE SUMMARY

"thin air" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something that appears to have come out of nowhere or to emphasize the lack of something. For example: "The money seemed to appear out of thin air."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Out of thin air!

The New York Times

Simply vanishes into thin air.

The Economist

It might dissipate into thin air.

The New Yorker

Resolution, then,  dissolves into thin air.

The New York Times

It builds meaning from thin air.

The New York Times

They just appear out of thin air.

The New Yorker

Our medium is thin air.

The New York Times

Its offices are thin air.

The New Yorker

Shirley materialises from thin air.

The Guardian - Music

Defenders were grasping thin air.

The Guardian - Sport

That's not substance; it's thin air.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to altitude, remember that the idiom describes the reduced oxygen levels, not necessarily a lack of any air at all.

Common error

Avoid using "thin air" literally to describe a room with poor ventilation. The phrase is primarily used idiomatically, not to describe physical air quality in a space.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thin air" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It often acts as an adverbial modifier, describing how something disappears or appears, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples like "vanish into thin air" or "appear out of thin air". Ludwig confirms it is acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thin air" is a versatile noun phrase used to describe something that disappears mysteriously, is created from nothing, or lacks substance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, but also appears in academic and scientific writing. While the phrase has a neutral register, it is essential to consider the idiomatic meaning to avoid misuse. Remember to utilize "thin air" to emphasize the sudden or unsubstantiated nature of something, enriching your descriptions with a touch of mystery or skepticism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

out of nowhere

Emphasizes the sudden and unexpected appearance of something.

vanish without a trace

Focuses on the complete disappearance of someone or something, leaving no evidence behind.

disappear into the ether

Suggests a mysterious and complete disappearance, often implying a sense of the unknown.

materialize from nothing

Highlights the creation or appearance of something from a state of non-existence.

spring into existence

Implies a sudden and rapid appearance or creation.

evaporate into nothingness

Stresses the complete and irreversible disappearance of something.

without any foundation

Signifies a lack of basis or support for a claim or idea.

from scratch

Indicates starting something entirely from the beginning, with no pre-existing materials or resources.

baseless claim

Refers to an assertion that lacks evidence or support.

unsubstantiated allegation

Emphasizes the lack of proof or verification for an accusation.

FAQs

How can I use "thin air" in a sentence?

You can use "thin air" to describe something that disappears mysteriously (e.g., "The suspect vanished into "thin air"") or to indicate that something was created from nothing (e.g., "The company seemed to conjure profits out of "thin air"").

What does it mean when someone says something was 'pulled out of thin air'?

Saying something was "pulled out of "thin air"" means it was made up or created without any basis in fact or evidence. It suggests the information is fabricated or unsubstantiated.

Is it correct to use "thin air" to describe a high-altitude environment?

Yes, it is correct. In this context, "thin air" refers to the reduced density of the atmosphere at high altitudes, resulting in lower oxygen levels. For example: "Climbing Mount Everest requires acclimatization to the "thin air"."

What's the difference between "vanish into thin air" and "disappear without a trace"?

Both phrases mean to disappear completely, but "vanish into "thin air"" often implies a sudden or mysterious disappearance, whereas "disappear without a trace" simply means that no evidence of the person or thing remains.