be floating on air

To be extremely happy. I've been floating on air ever since I got engaged! Of course the kids are floating on air—as of noon today, they're out of school for the summer. When I saw my favorite band perform live, I was floating on air from beginning to end.

float (one's) boat

To make someone happy. Often used in the phrase "whatever floats (one's) boat." A: "What do you want for dinner?" B: "Whatever floats your boat, I'm not even hungry." I think this new job in the lab will really float Isabel's boat. It's Jason's birthday, so we should do whatever floats his boat.

float (up)on (something)

To bob, drift, or glide over or on a particular surface. Look at all the ducks just floating on the water! The paper airplane floated upon the air for a few seconds before sinking to the ground. I just want to get on an inner tube, float on the lake, and forget all my troubles!

float a loan

1. To receive a loan of money from someone or some institution. I had to float a loan to pay for the medical expenses. Thankfully they were able to float a loan and implement the repairs and upgrades the health inspector had demanded. Most people have to float a loan to pay for college in this country.

2. To give, or arrange for someone to give, a loan of money to someone else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used after "float." I'd be happy to float you a loan to help get your business off the ground. The house needs a lot of work, so they're looking around at creditors who might be willing to float them a loan. No bank is going to float you a loan if they have reason to think you're not gonna pay it!

float a trial balloon

To propose something in order to get feedback on it. The phrase alludes to the former use of balloons to get information about the weather. When everyone objected to my idea, I reassured them that I was just floating a trial balloon and had not made any sort of decision on the matter. If management criticizes your suggestion to close the office early on Fridays in the summer, say you were just floating a trial balloon. A: "I'm just floating a trial balloon. Maybe Mom and Dad will agree to giving me a later curfew, you never know." B: "Please, there's no way they'll let you stay out till 11 PM."

float an air biscuit

slang To fart. I can't believe you floated an air biscuit in the car. Now we have to smell it all the way home! Quick, open a window! Someone floated an air biscuit! Sorry, I always float a lot of air biscuits after I eat dairy.

float an idea

To suggest something in order to gauge interest in it or others' perception of it. Can you float the idea of closing the office early on Fridays in the summer, to see how management reacts? When everyone objected, I reassured them that I was just floating an idea and had not made any sort of decision on the matter. A: "I'm just floating an idea. Maybe Mom and Dad will agree to giving me a later curfew, you never know." B: "Please, there's no way they'll let you stay out till 11 PM."

float around

1. To float or bob over or on top of a particular surface. Look at all the ducks just floating around the pond! Look, Billy! Look at all the bubbles floating around! I just want to get on an inner tube, float around the lake, and forget all my troubles!

2. To not be in any specific location. I just saw that book yesterday, so it must be floating around here somewhere. I know the folder is floating around my office, I just haven't put my finger on it. We're going to get in serious trouble if the boss hears that there were classified documents just floating around the department!

float into (something)

1. Literally, to bob, drift, or glide into some thing or place, as on air or water. We floated into the tunnel on our inner tubes. Do you think he'll try to kiss me when the carnival ride floats into the tunnel? Luckily, the pilot recognized the engine issue and floated into the water, saving the lives of everyone on board.

2. By extension, to move forward into some thing or place in a slow, easy manner. The bride floated into the church, her gown's exquisite train trailing behind her. Float into the auditorium, OK? Give your parents the chance to take pictures of you in your cap and gown. When did you float into the meeting? I didn't even see you come in!

float on air

float through (something)

1. Literally, to bob, drift, or glide over or through something, such as air or water. Look at all the ducks just floating through the water! The paper airplane floated through the air for a few seconds before sinking to the ground. I just want to get on an inner tube, float through water, and forget all my troubles!

2. By extension, to move or act with little awareness, attention, or enthusiasm. I was so groggy after that nap that I basically floated through the rest of my day. You need to pick a major soon—you can't just float through college forever. Consumed with grief, I simply floated through the months after my husband died.

like floating on a cloud

Eliciting a euphoric feeling. When you finally find your soulmate, it's the most wonderful feeling, like floating on a cloud.

my back teeth are floating

rude slang I need to urinate very badly. Can we please stop at this gas station? My back teeth are floating!

float a loan

Fig. to get a loan of money; to arrange for a loan of money. I couldn't afford to pay cash for the car, so I floated a loan. They needed money, so they had to float a loan.

float around

to float from here to there freely. All sorts of paper and trash were floating around on the surface of the pond. Water hyacinths floated around, making a very tropical scene.

float on air

Fig. [for someone] to feel free and euphoric. I was so happy, I was floating on air. Mary was floating on air after she won first prize.

float a trial balloon

mainly AMERICAN

COMMON If someone floats a trial balloon they suggest an idea or plan in order to see what people think about it. The administration has not officially released any details of the president's economic plan, although numerous trial balloons have been floated. Note: Other verbs can be used instead of float. Weeks ago, the Tories were flying a trial balloon about banning teacher strikes. Note: You can call an idea or suggestion that is made to test public opinion a trial balloon. The idea is nothing more than a trial balloon at this point. Note: Balloons were formerly used to find out about weather conditions.

float around

1. To be or move in a nonspecific or unknown location: That pen must be floating around here somewhere. The travelers floated around the countryside, stopping here and there to eat and rest.

2. To move around while suspended on the surface of a fluid without sinking; float in no particular direction: Empty bottles and other debris float around in the cove at low tide.

float an air biscuit

tv. to break wind; to fart. (see also cut a muffin.) Who floated the air biscuit? P.U.