give someone the air
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To jilt or ditch a lover.
Register: dated, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
“The slick-haired dame's give him the air!” he says.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “give someone the air” mean?
To jilt or ditch a lover.
Is “give someone the air” formal or informal?
give someone the air is generally dated, slang.