in the wind
9
6.3
- idiom
- Informal
:
en el aire
- But I just gotta tell you, if mergers are in the wind, I've developed some great prospects.
- change in the wind
Examples
-
Listen, promises blow away in the wind, but feelings are real.
-
And how long did you plan on letting me twist in the wind?
-
There's something big in the wind.
-
Even as Johnson & Johnson celebrated a quarter-century partnership, change was in the wind.
Academic text (2007) -
Like O'Reilly, he smells the shift in the wind and wants to play both sides now.
Blog text (5) -
Rumors of war were in the wind, however, and some thought this the King's way of stalling off a much-debated decision to march on Greece in retaliation for his father's death four years before.
-
Rumors about a major merger are in the wind among the employees.
-
There are changes in the wind regarding the company's leadership.
-
I have a feeling there might be a surprise announcement in the wind.
Synonyms
262
1.4
About to happen
124
3.7
A feeling many people notice, like excitement or joy, that something will happen
51
3.2
About to happen
17
6.1
Likely to happen
8
5.6
Likely to happen soon
Expected to happen soon
Antonyms
How Likely
946
1.0
∞
1.0
- Informal
17
6.1
- Informal
9
6.3
- US
74
3.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'in' and 'wind' can lead a learner to a metaphorical reading of something 'in the air' or circulating, so a B1 who knows the words can plausibly infer a sense like rumours or possibilities. However, the leap from literal location to the specific idiomatic meanings (being discussed, rumored, likely to happen) is metaphorical rather than strictly compositional, so the exact nuance may not be fully predictable without exposure.
Etymology
In the wind comes from the image of news or hints being carried by the wind. If talk or signs are already blowing around, people feel something will happen soon, so it means 'being discussed' or 'likely to happen soon'.