上うわの空そら

Meanings

Usage patterns

• 〈事こと〉を上うわの空そらで聞きくto listen to something with one's mind elsewhere

  彼かれは先せん生せいの話はなしを上うわの空そらで聞きいていた。

  He was listening to the teacher's talk with his mind elsewhere.

• 上うわの空そらになるto become absent-minded, to zone out

  恋こい人びとのことを考かんがえて上うわの空そらになった。

  I became absent-minded thinking about my girlfriend.

• 〈人ひと〉は上うわの空そらで〈動どう詞し〉someone does something while distracted or with their mind elsewhere

  母ははは上うわの空そらで返へん事じをした。

  My mother answered distractedly, her mind elsewhere.