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Don?t vanish into thin air

Posted by David FG on July 13, 2005

In Reply to: Don?t vanish into thin air posted by Smokey Stover on July 13, 2005

: : I did not understand the meaning of "Don?t vanish into thin air".

: : Please tell me.
: : Regards - Rahul

: The OED (Oxford English Dictionary) has this: "Thin ... b. transf. and fig. Wanting body or substance; unsubstantial; intangible. Also in phr. to vanish (melt, etc.) into thin air: to disappear completely from sight or existence (formerly only of spirits). ... [early citations:]
: 1610 SHAKES. Temp. IV. i. 150 These our actors..were all Spirits, and Are melted into Ayre, into thin Ayre. 1671 MILTON P.R. I. 499 Satan bowing low His gray dissimulation, disappear'd Into thin air diffus'd." SS

I would suggest that 'don't vanish into thin air' is a request that the person spoken to keep in touch, maintains contact, and doesn't disappear entirely.

DFG

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