看美剧学英语高频短语：Thin Air
Thin air: it is an idiom that means something appears or disappears suddenly, as if from nowhere, with no explanation or trace. The origin of this phrase can trace back to William Shakespeare. （Thin Air【凭空 / 无影无踪】 是一个习语，指某事物似乎突然出现或消失，好像没有来由、没有痕迹。）
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In Othello (1604), Shakespeare wrote:
“… go, vanish into thin air.” 在《奥赛罗》(1604) 中，他写道： “…go, vanish into thin air.”（去吧，凭空消失。） -
In The Tempest (1610–1611), the spirit Ariel says:
“These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits and Are melted into air, into thin air.” 在《暴风雨》(1610–1611) 中，精灵艾丽尔说： “…Are melted into air, into thin air.”（……融化在空气中，消失得无影无踪。）
当时 “thin air” 用来形容极度轻薄、无形的空气，好像人或事物可以消散其中。后来逐渐演化为今天的习语，用来指“突然消失/出现”。
以下是英语高频短语“Thin Air”在美剧语料库中的相关例句：
场景一：选自美剧《新闻工作室》S02E03 25:39
Don: Black Hawks are what we sent in to get bin Laden. “黑鹰”直升机就是我们当年派去抓本·拉登的机型。
Elliot: Abbottabad is 4,000 feet above sea level, and most of the villages in Waziristan are over 9,000. 阿伯塔巴德海拔约四千英尺，而瓦济里斯坦的大多数村庄则在九千英尺以上。
Maggie: That’s pretty thin air for rotating blades. 对直升机的旋翼来说，那可是空气稀薄得很。
Jim: Maybe it wasn’t a Black Hawk [hɔːk] or maybe, excuse me, we’re not experts in military helicopters. 或许那不是“黑鹰”，或者——抱歉——我们也不是军用直升机专家。
场景二：选自美剧《金装律师》S03E12 12:20
Jessica: I didn’t think they were gonna come at me with all that stuff. 我没想到他们会拿那些事来对付我。
Harvey: They weren’t coming at you. 他们不是在针对你。
——>> They were coming with a proposal. 他们是带着提案来的。Jessica: Do you really think that offer came out of thin air? 你真以为那个提议是凭空冒出来的吗？
——>> I think it’s possible they waited to pounce. 我觉得他们可能是故意等着一击而中。
场景二：选自美剧《纸牌屋》S04E13 19:27
Frank: Look, I’m not gonna get into the weeds on this, but let’s just cut to the chase. 听着，我不打算在这件事上钻牛角尖，咱们直接说重点吧。
To get into the weeds means to focus on or become involved in very detailed, specific, or complicated aspects of something — often to the point where the bigger picture is forgotten. It’s commonly used in business or discussions to suggest that someone is dwelling too much on minor details instead of staying strategic or high-level. （Get into the weeds 的意思是“陷入细节、纠结琐事”，指某人过于关注事情的具体或复杂部分，以至于忽略整体方向或核心问题。这个短语常用于商务场合，提醒别人不要迷失在细枝末节中。）
(Daily conversation | 日常对话)
Let’s not get into the weeds about who said what — we just need to fix the problem. | 我们别纠结谁说了什么了——现在关键是解决问题。
Every time we plan a trip, you get into the weeds about hotel reviews and flight times. | 每次我们计划旅行，你总是陷在酒店评论和航班时间这些细节里。
(Business context | 商业语境)
3. The CEO stopped the discussion and said, “We’re getting into the weeds — let’s focus on strategy.” | CEO 打断了讨论，说：“我们太陷入细节了——该聚焦战略。”
4. The meeting dragged on because the team kept getting into the weeds about minor design changes. | 会议拖得太久，因为团队老是在小的设计改动上打转。
Tom: The allegations that you’re making are just as ludicrous[‘luːdɪkrəs] as they were the first time we met. 你现在的指控跟我们第一次见面时一样荒唐。
Frank: I had nothing concrete then. This time I do. 那时我确实没有确凿证据，但这次我有。
Tom: Three people with an ax to grind [ɡraɪnd] , no hard evidence and some travel logs? I’d hardly call that concrete. 三个心怀怨气的人、没有实质证据、再加上几份出行记录？我可不觉得那算确凿。
To have an ax to grind means to have a personal motive, hidden agenda, or self-serving reason for saying or doing something. It often implies that someone’s actions or opinions aren’t completely objective — they’re driven by personal interest, bias, or resentment rather than fairness. （Have an ax to grind 的意思是“心怀私念、有个人动机或别有用心”。这个短语通常暗示某人的言行并非出于公正或善意，可能是心存怨气，也可能是为了自身利益或报复心理。这个表达源自一个古老故事：某人假装恭维别人帮他磨斧头，结果被揭穿其实是为了自己的目的。）
(Daily conversation | 日常对话)
I don’t think he’s giving you advice just to help — he’s got an ax to grind. | 我不觉得他真的是在帮你——他肯定另有所图。
She keeps badmouthing her ex-boss; it’s obvious she has an ax to grind. | 她一直在说前老板坏话，显然是心存怨气。
(Business context | 商业语境)
3. The consultant’s report sounded unbiased, but I suspect he had an ax to grind with the management team. | 那份顾问报告看似客观，但我怀疑他对管理层有私心。
4. Before we act on his proposal, let’s make sure he doesn’t have an ax to grind. | 在采纳他的提案前，先确认他是不是另有图谋。
Frank: It’s enough for a story. 已经足够写成一篇报道了。
——>> You’re floating an idea out of thin air. 你不过是在凭空捏造一个故事。
——>> Let’s just call this what it is: blatant sensationalism [sen’seɪʃənəlɪzəm] tied to the election- 你这是凭空抛出一个想法。咱们就直说吧：这就是赤裸裸的炒作，绑在选举上而已。
场景四：选自美剧《绝望的主妇》S04E16 12:56
Mike: I just got a call from my mom. My grandpa died. 我刚接到妈妈的电话，我爷爷去世了。
Susan: Oh, I’m so sorry. 哦，我真难过。
——>> I know how much you loved him. 我知道你有多爱他。
Mike: Well, actually, I’ve been thinking about it. 我其实一直在想这事。
——>> I know we settled on “Conner,” but I’d, uh, I’d like to name our son after my grandfather. 我知道我们定了“康纳”这个名字，但我想给儿子取我爷爷的名字。
Mike: Well, yeah, um, I mean, “Conner” is just a name we picked out of thin air. 是啊，“康纳”只是我们随便取的一个名字。
——>> This would mean something. 但这个名字有意义。
Susan: So you’re okay with this? 那你同意吗？
Mike: Think it’s a beautiful way to honor your grandfather. 我觉得这是一种很美的方式来纪念你爷爷。
——>> I mean, “James” wouldn’t be my first choice, but it’s a good, solid name. 我是说，“詹姆斯”不是我首选，但它是个稳重的好名字。
Susan: No, grandpa James is my dad’s dad. This is my mom’s—Maynard. 不，詹姆斯爷爷是我爸爸那边的，这次是我妈妈那边的——梅纳德。
Mike: Oh, right. Maynard. 哦，对，梅纳德。
——>> Oh, that’s awful… that he died. 真糟糕……我是说他去世的事。
Susan: Why didn’t we think of this before? 我们以前怎么没想到呢？
——>> It’s such a beautiful southern name. 这是个多好听的南方名字啊。
——>> Oh, and rare, really rare. 而且少见，真的很少见。
——>> And you’re right. It’s a great way to honor my grandfather. 你说得对，这是纪念我爷爷的好方
以下是英语高频短语“Thin Air”在日常交流中的相关例句：
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The magician seemed to pull a rabbit out of thin air, leaving the audience stunned.
参考释义：魔术师仿佛凭空变出了一只兔子，把观众惊得目瞪口呆。 -
Her anger didn’t come out of thin air; it had been building up for months.
参考释义：她的愤怒并不是凭空而来，而是已经积压了好几个月。 -
The suspect vanished into thin air before the police could catch him.
参考释义：嫌疑人在警方抓住他之前就消失得无影无踪。
画面联想：我的钱又不是大风刮来的！The money I made didn’t come out of thin air.
