From the given options, choose the one which gives the correct meaning / explanation for the expression
To beat the air
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is option 1: To make vain efforts
To beat the air means to waste effort on something useless or ineffective, similar to fighting a battle that cannot be won. It is often used to describe someone who is trying to achieve something that is impossible or very difficult. The idiom comes from the image of someone flailing their arms about in the air, but not actually making any progress.