Full of hot air

Meaning

Talkative without substance.

Usage

Used to call out empty boasting.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Hot air is light and insubstantial, like boastful speech.

English slang from the early 20th century.