English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Beat the air
Meaning
The idiom "beat the air" refers to someone or something that is extremely energetic, enthusiastic, or excited. It can also mean someone who is restless, agitated, or overly anxious. The phrase is often used to describe a person who is moving around a lot, speaking quickly, or doing something in a frenzied manner.
Usage
- Sarah was so excited about the upcoming concert that she couldn't sit still and was beating the air with her hands.
- The children were running around the park, playing and beating the air as they chased each other.
- The nervous businessman paced back and forth in front of his desk, beating the air with his feet.
- The cheerleaders on the sidelines were jumping up and down and beating the air as their team scored a touchdown.
- The athlete was sprinting across the field, beating the air with his arms as he ran.
Roots and History
The idiom "beat the air" dates back to at least the 14th century. It has been used in literature and poetry to describe someone who is agitated or nervous. Over time, it has come to be used more broadly to describe anyone who is energetic or enthusiastic.
Synonyms in English
- get excited
- get worked up
- get animated
- get pumped up
- go wild
Synonyms in other languages
- Spanish - "agitarse" - This means to stir or agitate oneself, often used to describe someone who is nervous or anxious.
- French - "escalater" - This means to escalate or get excited, often used in the context of sports or competitions.
- German - "erregen" - This means to excite or stimulate, often used to describe something that is interesting or exciting.
- Italian - "risveglio" - This means to arouse or awaken, often used to describe someone who is passionate or enthusiastic about something.
- Japanese - "睿智" - This means to be intelligent or smart, often used to describe someone who is knowledgeable or insightful.