1 sail
Pronounced:
/ˈseɪl/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
sails; sailed; sail·ingMeaning:
1 a : to travel on water in a ship or boat [no obj] ▪ sail across/on/over the sea/ocean ▪ We'll sail along/up/down the coast. ▪ He sailed around the world on a luxury liner. [+ obj] ▪ She sailed the Atlantic coastline. b : to control a ship or boat (especially one that has sails) while traveling on water [+ obj] ▪ She's sailing a boat in tomorrow's race. ▪ The ship was sailed by a crew of 8. [no obj] ▪ I've been sailing since I was a child. ▪ learning to sail c of a ship or boat : to travel on water [+ obj] ▪ a ship that has sailed the seven seas [no obj] ▪ We sat on the shore watching boats sail by.
2 [no obj] : to begin a journey on water in a ship or boat ▪ We sail at 9 a.m. tomorrow. ▪ They sail for/to San Francisco next week. ▪ The ship will be ready to sail in a week.
3 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to move or proceed in an easy, quick, and smooth way ▪ He sailed into the room. [=he walked quickly into the room in a very confident and easy way] ▪ The ball sailed [=flew] over the shortstop's head. ▪ The bill sailed through the legislature. [=the bill passed through the legislature very easily; the bill quickly became a law] ▪ She sailed through the exam/course. [=she easily passed the exam/course]
2 [no obj] : to begin a journey on water in a ship or boat ▪ We sail at 9 a.m. tomorrow. ▪ They sail for/to San Francisco next week. ▪ The ship will be ready to sail in a week.
3 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to move or proceed in an easy, quick, and smooth way ▪ He sailed into the room. [=he walked quickly into the room in a very confident and easy way] ▪ The ball sailed [=flew] over the shortstop's head. ▪ The bill sailed through the legislature. [=the bill passed through the legislature very easily; the bill quickly became a law] ▪ She sailed through the exam/course. [=she easily passed the exam/course]
sail close to the wind
Brit : to do something that is dangerous or that may be illegal or dishonest ▪ The company was sailing close to the wind, but it's not clear if they were breaking the law or not.