air sandwich

English

Etymology

(business strategy): Coined by Nilofer Merchant.

Noun

air sandwich (plural air sandwiches)

1. (informal) A sandwich consisting only of bread and optionally a spread, but no filling.
   • 2005, Stephen Lissberger, The Conscious Hours, page 91:

     Glancing into his wallet, he had just enough to cover it and a tad left to make it through the day's expenses, providing he had an air sandwich and glass of water for lunch.

2. (business, informal, derogatory) A strategy that has high-level direction and low-level operations, but little in the middle.