what does "punching the air "mean?
Forty-nine, he said to himself, forty-nine! He felt like punching the air. And as usual when he was feeling like this, as usual when he was feeling good about himself, he had Bruce Springsteen running through his head.
. . . it ain't no sin, to beglad you're alive.

Question

what does "punching the air "mean?
Forty-nine, he said to himself, forty-nine! He felt like punching the air. And as usual when he was feeling like this, as usual when he was feeling good about himself, he had Bruce Springsteen running through his head.
. . . it ain't no sin, to beglad you're alive.

Answer

"Punching the air" is a physical motion when somebody punches but does not come in contact with anything, just the air. It is usually done when somebody is angry to get rid of their anger. It can also be done up to the sky when somebody feels triumphant.

I hope my answer helps.