sailing
B1Neutral to informal in core meaning; formal in extended, technical use (e.g., shipping schedules).
Definition
Meaning
The sport or activity of travelling across water in a sailing boat or ship.
A smooth, easy, or successful progress through something; also refers to scheduled departures of ships or boats.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun (gerund/activity noun from verb 'sail'). Can function as an adjective (e.g., sailing club). Its extended meaning of 'easy progress' is often used in the idiom 'plain sailing'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Sailing boat' is more common in UK English; 'sailboat' is more common in US English.
Connotations
Connotes leisure, sport, and tradition in both varieties. In business contexts, 'smooth sailing' (US) is slightly more common than 'plain sailing' (UK) for the idiomatic meaning.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + go + sailing[Subject] + be + sailing (for/in + location)[Subject] + enjoy/love + sailingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “plain sailing / smooth sailing”
- “clear sailing”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"After the initial hurdles, the project was plain sailing." (Metaphorical use for easy progress)
Academic
Rare, except in historical contexts (e.g., 'Age of Sail') or sports science studies.
Everyday
"We're going sailing on the lake this weekend."
Technical
"The ferry company published its summer sailing times." (Schedule of departures)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They are sailing to the Isle of Wight.
- She has been sailing since she was ten.
American English
- They're sailing to Martha's Vineyard.
- He's been sailing on the Great Lakes for years.
adverb
British English
- This is not used as a standard adverb.
American English
- This is not used as a standard adverb.
adjective
British English
- He joined the local sailing club.
- They bought a new sailing dinghy.
American English
- She's on the sailing team.
- We need better sailing gear.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I want to go sailing.
- Sailing is fun.
- We went sailing on the lake last summer.
- The weather is perfect for sailing today.
- After the merger, it hasn't exactly been plain sailing for the company.
- Ocean sailing requires careful planning and good equipment.
- The new regulations could disrupt the ferry's sailing schedule for weeks.
- His transition into the director role was remarkably smooth sailing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SAILING contains 'SAIL' + 'ING' – imagine the action (-ING) of using a SAIL on a boat.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A VOYAGE / PROGRESS IS FORWARD MOTION (e.g., 'smooth sailing in his career').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from Russian парусный спорт (parusnyy sport) for the general activity 'sailing'; it's simply 'sailing' or 'yachting'.
- The noun 'sailing' can refer to both the activity and a specific instance/journey (like 'a sailing').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sail' as a continuous noun instead of 'sailing' (e.g., 'I like sail' X -> 'I like sailing' ✓).
- Confusing 'sailing' with 'surfing' or 'wind-surfing'.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase uses 'sailing' in a metaphorical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, sailing can be done on any large body of water, including lakes, rivers, and oceans.
'Sailing' is the broader term. 'Yachting' often implies sailing on larger, more luxurious boats (yachts) and can have connotations of sport or leisure associated with wealth.
Yes, in idioms like 'plain sailing' (UK) or 'smooth sailing' (US), it means a process is proceeding easily without problems.
It is usually uncountable (e.g., 'I love sailing'). It can be countable when referring to specific scheduled journeys of a ship (e.g., 'There are two sailings a day to the island').