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So a phrase that bugs me.

How thin does air have to be to be considered 'thin air' in the phrase "out of think air"?

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FaeLuna · 31-35, F

It just occurs to me that that phrase makes no sense. I'm going to have to look up the etymology of that one.

FaeLuna · 31-35, F

@FaeLuna Okay, so the best explanation I was able to find is that the "thin air" is referring to the upper atmosphere, which was considered a mysterious place no one knew anything about when the phrase started getting used. So, when something comes out of thin air, it's coming from a mysterious, unknown origin.

assemblingaknob · 26-30, F

@FaeLuna what about out of the blue? Does it mean it descended from the skies? Like aliens?

FaeLuna · 31-35, F

@assemblingaknob I believe it does mean that it's coming straight out of the sky. Not necessarily aliens, but when these phrases came into existence, we hadn't really explored much of the sky, and had no idea what was really up there. So, it was a mysterious place where anything could have been true.

assemblingaknob · 26-30, F

@FaeLuna Damn. Now we should probably say "straight outta a black hole"

TeirdalinFirefall · 31-35, M

@assemblingaknob That would be a pretty modern equivalent.