无论我们生活中的好友是多么的亲密无间，可是有时候就因一件小事，一句不慎出口之言，一句笑话就会变得关系冷淡，甚至是断绝来往。那么，我今天要抛出的招就跟这个有关。

我们还是先来听2例子：

A：I thought you were dating Sally these days.

我以为这些天你还在和Sally约会。

B : No. She gave me the air.

没有的事，她已经把我甩了。

We had been the closest of friends for many years when suddenly he gave men the air.

我们多年来一直是亲密的好朋友，而他突然间跟我断交了。

接招：在上面的2个例子中都用到了同一个词语：give sb the air。字面意思是给某人空气。那么，它究竟是什么意思呢？它的意思是：Break off relations with someone, oust someone, snub or jilt someone, especially a lover. 意思是与某人关系破裂，把某人撤职，冷落不理睬某人，遗弃抛弃某人。

其实，我们中文也有这样的说法，我经常对我的学生说：“你们不要让我把你们当做空气。”这句话是我用来警戒学生在舞蹈上要刻苦发奋练习，不要让我失望。如果你们让我失望，那么我作为老师也会让你们失望。就是把你们当做“空气”，不再理睬你们，你们想怎么着就怎么着，将来是你们的。

下面我们再来看一些例子来熟悉这个习语和运用这个习语。

1. John was really upset when Mary gave him the air.

Mary把John被甩了后，John真是郁闷不已。

2. If you were to take up professional dancing, I might have to give you the air.

如果你要从事职业性跳舞的话，我以后也许得同你断绝关系。

3. Frank's father gave him the air when he was caught taking drugs.

Frank被发现吸毒后,他的父亲便声明跟他断绝了父子关系。

4. Mr.George gave his daughter the air when she married against his wishes.

他的女儿违背父意结婚以后，乔治先生就和她断绝了关系。