Into thin air
Meaning
To disappear completely and mysteriously without leaving any trace.
Origin
The enchanting phrase 'into thin air' owes its widespread popularity and enduring power to none other than William Shakespeare. In his final complete play, "The Tempest" (circa 1610-1611), the powerful sorcerer Prospero famously describes the spirits of his magical masque melting away. His poignant lines, "These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits and Are melted into air, into thin air," paint a vivid picture of a complete and ethereal disappearance. While the concept of things vanishing was not new, Shakespeare’s eloquent phrasing captured the imagination of the English-speaking world, forever linking the phrase with sudden, inexplicable disappearance.
Examples
- The magician made the rabbit vanish into thin air, leaving the audience stunned.
- All the critical documents seemed to disappear into thin air from the locked office.