airy fairy

See also: airy-fairy

English

Etymology

Coined by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in 1830 in his poem Lilian.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈeəɹi feəɹi/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

airy fairy (comparative more airy fairy, superlative most airy fairy)

1. (informal, somewhat derogatory) Insubstantial.
2. (informal, somewhat derogatory) Impractical.

Quotations

• 1830, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Lilian:

  Airy, fairy Lilian,¶ Flitting, fairy Lilian,¶ When I ask her if she love me,¶ Claps her tiny hands above me

References

• Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 2010, →ISBN, page 9