airy fairy

== English == === Etymology === Coined by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, in 1830 in his poem Lilian. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈeəɹi feəɹi/ === Adjective === airy fairy (comparative more airy fairy, superlative most airy fairy) (informal, somewhat derogatory) Insubstantial. (informal, somewhat derogatory) Impractical. ==== Quotations ==== === References === Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 2010, →ISBN, page 9