in the air

dans l’air, dans l’atmosphère

Se dit d’une émotion ou d’une ambiance que les personnes présentes peuvent ressentir.

En anglais simple : Present as a feeling or mood that people around you can sense.

• Love is in the air.
• We felt tension in the air during dinner.
• There was a sense of hope in the air.

Comment l'utiliser : something is in the air (Excitement was in the air before the concert.)

Synonymes : around, perceptible

Expressions courantes : in the air, something in the air

qui circule, dans l’air

Se dit d’une information qui circule largement sans qu’on sache d’où elle vient.

En anglais simple : Being talked about widely, although nobody knows where the information came from.

• There are rumours in the air.
• Talk of an election was in the air.
• Nobody could explain the strange reports in the air.

Comment l'utiliser : something is in the air (Rumours of a takeover are in the air.)

Synonymes : circulating, going around

Expressions courantes : in the air, something in the air

en suspens, incertain

Se dit de quelque chose qui n’est pas encore décidé, réglé ou assuré.

En anglais simple : Not yet decided, settled, or secure.

• Our plans are still in the air.
• His future was in the air after the closure.
• The final arrangements remain in the air.

Comment l'utiliser : something is in the air (The date remains in the air.)

Synonymes : unsettled, uncertain, up in the air

Contraires : settled, decided

Expressions courantes : in the air, still in the air

à découvert, sans appui

Se dit d’une force militaire dont un côté n’est pas protégé contre une attaque.

En anglais simple : Having an unprotected side that an enemy can attack.

• Their flank was in the air.
• The retreat left our right wing in the air.
• The commander refused to leave a flank in the air.

Comment l'utiliser : have a flank/wing in the air (The division had its left flank in the air.)

Synonymes : exposed, unprotected, unsupported

Contraires : protected

Expressions courantes : in the air, wing in the air