Meaning
Uncertain, undecided, or unresolved, with no fixed plan yet in place.
It’s used for anything from travel plans to business decisions to relationship status — any situation whose outcome has not yet been settled.
Origin
The idiom is documented in English from 1752, drawing on the literal image of an object tossed into the air that has not yet come back down and landed — a state of suspended, undetermined motion applied metaphorically to a plan or decision that hasn’t yet settled into a final outcome. A related but distinct expression, “in the air” (without “up”), meaning a general, diffuse sense or mood that many people share, is attested somewhat later, from 1875.
Examples
Our vacation plans are still up in the air.
The merger is up in the air until the board votes.
Everything about the wedding date is up in the air right now.
A: Have you decided where to live? B: No, it’s still up in the air.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Up in the air' mean?
Uncertain, undecided, or unresolved, with no fixed plan yet in place.
It’s used for anything from travel plans to business decisions to relationship status — any situation whose outcome has not yet been settled.