up in the air
idiom

- if a matter is up in the air, it is uncertain, often because other matters have to be decided first

Cambridge Dictionary

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ORIGIN

The precise origin of this idiom is unknown, although it’s figurative use is easy to understand. It may allude to a coin toss, since as long as the coin is still in the air, the outcome is unknown, unconcluded, yet to be settled.

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AIRY IDIOMS

- air one’s grievances = to complain about something (Harry took the opportunity to air his grievances about the budget changes)

- give someone an air kiss = to kiss one’s hand and then blow it toward another person (Jane gave Jim an air kiss at the end of the zoom call)

- appear out of thin air = to appear suddenly and unexpectedly (Job opportunities don’t just appear out of thin air, you need to get out there and look for them)

- build castles in the air = to daydream about something that probably won't occur (Don’t just build castles in the air, you need to take action and make things happen)

- clear the air = to clarify a dificult situation by having an open conversation about it (Things were much better after we spoke and cleared the air)

- walk on air = to be extremely happy (Julia was floating on air after hearing about her promotion)

- full of hot air = someone who tells lies or who exaggerates the truth (Jacko is full of hot air, there is no way we’ll make a profit this year)

- air quotes = a hand gesture used to make quotation marks in the air - often used when a person is skeptical or doesn’t believe what a person has said (Jack used air quotes to describe what Jill said about the meeting)

- give oneself airs = to think one is better than others (Just ignore Joel, he’s giving himself airs again)

- pluck something out of the air = to say something - a number, or an answer to a question - without thinking (I just plucked a number out of the air and surprisingly, it was correct)

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SYNONYMS

anyone’s guess, betwixt and between, iffy, indefinite, indeterminate, in a state of uncertainty, in the lap of god(s), still open, the jury’s out, under advisement, under discussion, unresolved, yet to be settled, yet to be decided

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PRACTICE OWAD in an English conversation, say something like:

“The whole future of the project is still UP IN THE AIR.”

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Paul Smith