What does the expression "thin air" mean?

[Hiam]

Hello everyone...

can someone help me with these:

1.what does the expression "thin air" mean??
2. when you are describing someone who is not from Europe and has a very fair skin "white in color" do you say he has a white skin,
and if someone has a skin which is not so dark "like a black person" and not so fair " like a white person" what is the right word to descibe his skin??
I hope my second quiz is not confusing??

waiting for your answers

Hiam

[Milanya]

1.what does the expression "thin air" mean?? - Without context it means that the air is thin, like in the mountains.

2. when you are describing someone who is not from Europe and has a very fair skin " white in color" do you say he has a white skin, - very fair skin is correct. You got it.
and if someone has a skin which is not so dark "like a black person" and not so fair " like a white person" what is the right word to descibe his skin?? - swarthy, having a dark complexion, dark-complexioned
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con·text - The part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning.

[InsaneMetal]

In related news: Out of thin air means "out of nothing" :D

[Hiam]

Milanya
InsaneMetal

Thank you very much for your replies

But I am still not very clear with the experssion thin air...can I just say, air with low pressure??

:roll:

[InsaneMetal]

It would be better if you gave us an example of the usage of this expression... like the phrase where you heard it... ;)

[Milanya]

[Cerberus™]

"Thin air" is often used in expressions (idiom), where it has a special meaning. Example:
"We were very surprised when the wizard disappeared into thin air" - it means that the wizard suddenly disappeared, without leaving a trace.

[Mister Micawber]

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I recommend trying your DICTIONARY.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Hiam]

Thankk you all for passing by and trying to help

Well, I guess it is best if i give the experssion in context ,,where i read it

When you're high up in a mountain, the conditions are hard on the human body. the air is thin, and you get tired. I've lived throught stroms and bad weather.But I like the challenge and I like overcoming danger. that's why I do it.

How is it now?? :roll:
Well, the topic was mountain climbing

[Mister Micawber]

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Ah! Not an idiom. At high altitude, the gases (most importantly oxygen) that make up our atmosphere (air) are less dense-- there are not as many molecules per unit volume as at sea level, so the air is 'thin'.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's