Make it so he's not playing against open air all the time.

He had to fight for breath against the dark air of the gulf.

I put them in and sealed the envelope against air.

He stopped, folded his arms again and leaned back against the air.

To the men behind him it seemed that he strained against empty air.

For a moment, the hand played against the air.

Clear and sharp against the air he heard the sound of an axe.

In recent years, there have been strong signs of a backlash against canned air.

She lifted a hand, pressing her palm against empty air.

That's because the propeller starts pushing against air not water.