air of expectation
1
4.8
- noun
- You could feel an air of expectation at the festival as everyone eagerly anticipated the surprise guest performer.
Examples
-
The air of expectation thickens like the mist that hovers between the trunks of the tupelo and sweet gum trees.
Fiction book (1993) -
As if something else had entered with the dog—a presence that watched her with the same air of expectation as a curious cat.
Fiction book (1992) -
As the audience settled into their seats, an air of expectation filled the theater for the opening night of the play.
-
The classroom was filled with an air of expectation as the students awaited the announcement of the competition results.
Synonyms
706
2.8
A belief that something will happen in the future
141
3.4
A feeling of eager waiting for something that will happen
11
5.1
A feeling of waiting and hoping for something to happen
How Expectant
1
4.8
141
3.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
air + of + expectation
The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'air' (an intangible atmosphere or ambiance) with 'expectation' (a feeling of awaiting something), so a learner who knows both words can infer an atmosphere of eager waiting. The 'air of X' construction is a common, compositional pattern found across languages, making the phrase readily comprehensible to B1 learners.
Etymology
Air of expectation creates a simple picture: the very air in a room seems full because everyone has expectation and is watching or waiting quietly. So it means the feeling or atmosphere when people are 'eagerly waiting'.