sail
B1Neutral to informal. Common in everyday, travel, and nautical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To travel across water in a vessel using wind power; also, the fabric structure on a boat that catches wind to propel it.
To move smoothly, gracefully, or confidently through air, space, or a non-liquid medium (e.g., 'She sailed past the competition'). To begin a voyage or venture ('We sail at dawn').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun refers to the physical object. The verb describes the action of using sails or moving in a sail-like manner. Has strong collocations with departure, weather, and direction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the same core meanings. Slightly more prevalent in British English for certain idioms (e.g., 'sail through').
Connotations
Shared nautical and leisurely connotations. In both, 'sail' can imply ease or lack of effort.
Frequency
Comparable frequency. The noun may be slightly more frequent in AmE due to recreational sailing culture.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sail (v.i.): The ship sails.sail + prepositional phrase (v.i.): We sailed across the bay.sail + direct object (v.t.): He sails a yacht.sail + object + prepositional phrase (v.t.): They sailed the ship into port.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sail through (something)”
- “sail close to the wind”
- “take the wind out of someone's sails”
- “under sail”
- “smooth sailing”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphor for smooth progress: 'The project is sailing towards completion.'
Academic
Descriptive in geography/history: 'Vikings sailed to North America.'
Everyday
Discussing travel/hobbies: 'We're sailing to Greece this summer.'
Technical
Nautical engineering/sports: 'The sail's aspect ratio affects performance.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The yacht's main sail was torn in the storm.
- They went for a afternoon sail on the lake.
- The ship was under full sail.
American English
- We need to hoist the sail before the wind dies.
- Let's go for a quick sail before sunset.
- The sail flapped loudly in the strong breeze.
verb
British English
- They plan to sail from Southampton to New York.
- The dinghy sailed gracefully across the Solent.
- She sailed through her exams with top marks.
American English
- We're sailing from Miami to the Bahamas next week.
- The paper airplane sailed across the room.
- He sailed through the interview and got the job.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Look! A big ship with white sails.
- We can sail on a boat.
- My uncle taught me how to sail last summer.
- The ferry sails between the islands every day.
- Despite the initial problems, the new policy sailed through parliament.
- She sailed past her competitors in the final stretch of the race.
- The company is sailing close to the wind with its aggressive tax avoidance strategies.
- His confidence sailed him through the most challenging negotiations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SAIL: Smooth And Impressive locomotion. Think of a boat moving silently and easily.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A VOYAGE / DIFFICULTIES ARE STORMS / SUCCESS IS SMOOTH SAILING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'парус' for the verb use. 'Парус' is only the noun. The verb is 'плыть под парусами' or 'идти под парусом'. Avoid direct translation 'сайлить'.
- Confusion with 'sale' (продажа) due to identical pronunciation.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I sail on a ship.' (if the ship is engine-powered, use 'travel' or 'go'). Correct: 'I sail in a yacht.'
- Incorrect preposition: 'sail in the sea' -> Correct: 'sail on the sea'.
- Noun/Verb confusion: 'We went for a sail' (correct noun use) vs. 'We sail tomorrow' (correct verb use).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'to do something easily and successfully'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, no. 'Sail' implies wind propulsion. For engine-powered travel, use 'travel', 'go', or 'cruise' (if leisurely).
They are homophones (sound the same). 'Sail' is related to boats and wind. 'Sale' is the act of selling something at a reduced price.
It is a regular verb. Past tense and past participle: 'sailed'.
Yes, very commonly. E.g., 'sail through a test' (pass easily), 'sail into someone' (criticize fiercely), 'sail close to the wind' (take risks).