sail near the wind Definition

sail
noun

1. A sheet of canvas, or similar structure, spread to catch the wind as a means of propelling a ship.
2. A framework of slats which drive a windmill by catching the wind.
3. Sails collectively.
4. A trip in a boat or ship with or without sails.
5. A voyage of a specified distance travelled by boat or ship.
sail
6. naut.
A ship with sails.
Example: thirty sail

verb sailed, sailing

tr & intr
1. To travel by boat or ship.

Example: sail the Pacific
Thesaurus: cruise, voyage, travel, navigate, pilot, captain.
2. To control (a boat or ship).

Example: He sailed his ship around the world
intr
3. To depart by boat or ship.

Example: We sail at two-thirty
Thesaurus: leave, embark, set sail, get under way, weigh anchor, put to sea.
4. To cause (a toy boat, etc) to sail.

Derivative: sailable
adj

Navigable.

Derivative: sailed
adj

Having sails.

Derivative: sailless
adj

Idiom: full sail

With all sails raised and filled with the wind.

Idiom: make sail

To raise more sail.

To set off on a voyage.

Idiom: put on sail

To set more sails in order to travel more quickly.

Idiom: sail close to the wind (sail near the wind)

To keep the boat's bow as close as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing so that the sails catch as much wind as is safely possible.

To come dangerously close to overstepping a limit, eg of good taste or decency.

Idiom: set sail

To begin a journey by boat or ship.

To spread the sails.

Idiom: shorten sail

To reduce its open extent.

Idiom: strike sail

To lower a sail or sails.

Idiom: under sail

Having the sails raised and spread.

Propelled by sails.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon segel.

Phrasal Verb: sail through something

To succeed in it effortlessly.
Example: She sailed through all her exams

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wind¹
noun

1. The movement of air, especially horizontally, across the Earth's surface as a result of differences in atmospheric pressure between one location and another.

Thesaurus: air current, breeze, gust, gale, blast, flurry, draught.
2. A current of air produced artificially, by a fan, etc.
3. An influence that seems to pervade events.

Example: a wind of change
4. One's breath or breath supply.

Example: short of wind
5. The scent of game or, for animals, the scent of a hunter or predator, carried by the wind.
6. Gas built up in the intestines; flatulence.
7. Empty, pompous or trivial talk.
8a. The wind instruments of an orchestra;
8b. The players of these.

Form: winds (also)

verb winded, winding

1. To deprive someone of breath temporarily, eg by a punch or fall.
2. To burp (a baby).

Idiom: before the wind

Said of a ship: sailing with the wind coming from behind it.

Idiom: break wind

To discharge intestinal gas through the anus.

Idiom: cast something to the winds (fling something to the winds, throw something to the winds)

To scatter or throw it away recklessly.

To abandon (caution, restraint or prudence, etc).

Idiom: down wind from something

Receiving, or able to receive, air laden with the smell or pollutants, etc from it.

Idiom: get wind of something

To have one's suspicions aroused or hear a rumour, especially of something unfavourable or unwelcome.
Thesaurus: hear of, learn, sense, understand, be clued-up about, be clued-in about (US).

Idiom: get the wind up

colloq
To become nervous, anxious or alarmed.

Idiom: get one's second wind

To sufficiently recover one's breath after an initial exertion to carry on with ease.

Idiom: in the wind

About to happen.

Idiom: like the wind

Swiftly.

Idiom: put the wind up someone

colloq
To make them nervous, anxious or alarmed.

Idiom: sail close to the wind (sail near the wind)

See under sail.

Idiom: see which way the wind blows

To assess current opinions or likely developments, etc.

Idiom: take the wind out of someone's sails

To thwart their confident progress; to deflate or humble them.

Idiom: wind of change (winds of change)

A pervasive influence bringing change.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon.