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Sail Close to the Wind

What Does "Sail Close to the Wind" Mean?

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"Sail close to the wind" is an English idiom. It means "to engage in risky or daring behavior; to approach a dangerous situation without caution."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "sail close to the wind" used in a sentence:
  • His reckless spending habits caused him to sail close to the wind financially.
  • The pilot's decision to fly in the storm made it seem like he was sailing close to the wind.
  • The adventurous explorer often sailed close to the wind in pursuit of new discoveries.
meaning for sail close to the wind

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Sail Close to the Wind" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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