Up in the air
/ˌʌp ɪn ði ˈɛər/neutral, informalUK · US · AU · IE · CA
What does “Up in the air” mean?
Up in the air means a plan or decision is not yet settled or confirmed.
When a matter is up in the air, nobody has made a final choice yet. You are usually waiting for more news or help before you can finish the plan.
This phrase feels casual, friendly, and calm. It lets you explain a delay without sounding angry or overly formal.
When do people say it?
People use this phrase when talking about future plans that can still change.
“Our holiday plans are still up in the air because we cannot find cheap flights.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: neutral, informal. It is most at home in both everyday conversation and professional writing. Most common in UK and US and AU and IE and CA.
Where does it come from?
The phrase comes from the image of an object tossed high that has not landed yet. Its exact first written use is not settled, but it became common in the twentieth century.
Origin confidence: Reasonably documented
How do you say “Up in the air” in other languages?
Last reviewed 2026-09-11