The phrase "was on the air" is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /wʌz ɒn ði eər/. The first sound, /w/, is a voiced labiovelar approximant. The next word, "on," is pronounced with a short vowel sound /ʌ/, followed by the voiced velar nasal /n/. The third word, "the," is pronounced with the short vowel sound /ði/ and the schwa sound /ər/. "Air" is pronounced with the diphthong /eər/, which begins with the long vowel sound /e/ and ends with the rhotic sound /r/.
"Was on the air" is a colloquial expression that refers to the state or condition of a radio or television program being broadcasted or transmitted. It indicates that a particular show or episode was being actively transmitted and made available for public listening or viewing at a certain point in time. The phrase is derived from the concept of radio waves or television signals being 'in the air' and accessible through suitable receivers.
When a program is "on the air," it means that the broadcast has commenced, and it is being transmitted live or pre-recorded to the audience via radio or television waves. Typically, this expression is used to indicate the timeframe during which the program is being broadcasted. It does not necessarily convey the program's content or quality but rather emphasizes its availability and transmission status. Whether it is a news segment, a sports event, a talk show, or a sitcom, being "on the air" implies that the show is actively being transmitted to the target audience and can be received through appropriate devices.
Overall, the phrase "was on the air" is an idiomatic expression used especially within the broadcasting industry to describe the period during which a particular radio or television program is being transmitted and made available for public consumption.