on the air
on the air — idiom
1. describes a radio or television programme that is being transmitted and can be w
describes a radio or television programme that is being transmitted and can be watched or listened to at that moment, or a station or presenter that is broadcasting live.
The interview with Dr. Okafor will be on the air at eight o'clock tonight.
be on the air + time reference
Listeners called in with questions about the policy while the show was on the air.
The local radio station first went on the air in 1995 with a classical music program.
A strange noise interrupted the program while it was on the air last night.
Linh stayed up late to hear her cousin's band on the air from Chicago.
- broadcasting
direct verb form; 'on the air' emphasises the state of being transmitted
- being transmitted
more technical and less common in everyday speech
- on air
informal studio shorthand, often written without 'the' ('We are on air')
- off the air
the direct opposite; not broadcasting or finished broadcasting
文法句型
go on the air
be on the air
stay on the air
用法筆記
Often used with the verb 'go' to describe the start of a broadcast ('go on the air'). The opposite phrase is 'off the air', meaning not broadcasting or no longer broadcasting.