pluck sth out of / from the air

/plˈʌk ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ ˌaʊtəv fɹɒm ðɪ ˈeə/

/plˈʌk ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ ˌaʊɾəv fɹʌm ðɪ ˈɛɹ/

[phrase]

to pluck sth out of / from the air

[PHRASE]

to quickly say something without thinking about it first, usually as a reply to something

Examples

1. "Oh, I just plucked them out of the air."

2. - Two plays later, Holmgren showed why Paul Allen backed the Brink's truck up for him when he drew up a dazzling play in which Hasselbeck was to throw the ball directly to Packers linebacker Hannibal Navies, such that Navies would deflect the ball at a perfect trajectory for Hutchinson to pluck it out of the air, rumble forward down to the one yard line, and, much like Lloyd Christmas, totally redeem himself.

3. Courtois rises, plucks a corner from the air.

4. Sometimes I'm struggling, trying to find a word, and I'm waving my hand around up here as if I can pluck it out of the air and put it into my brain.