clear sailing
2
3.5
- noun
- Informal
:
navegación sin obstáculos
- Easter will be clear sailing, señor.
- clear sailing ahead
- clear sailing now
Examples
-
After the recent project delays, we finally have clear sailing ahead to complete the work on time.
-
It's clear sailing now, and up ahead, Nick can see Alex pulling up to the end of the driveway...
Fiction book (1993) -
All right, it's clear sailing to the finish line now.
-
From now on, it's going to be clear sailing all the way.
-
May you all have clear sailing in the new year... ...and all the years to come.
-
So, I ran your numbers past my accountant and it looks like blue skies and clear sailing.
-
After you get used to the brine, it's clear sailing.
Fiction book (1990) -
You've had your share of mishaps, so now it'll be clear sailing.
-
With all major issues resolved, it's clear sailing for the team as they prepare for the final presentation.
-
The new strategy resulted in clear sailing for the company's growth, with no major challenges in sight.
Synonyms
16
2.7
An easy time with no problems
1
2.8
Easy to do and without problems after it starts
An easy and comfortable life without many problems
Antonyms
How Easy
- Informal
33
2.1
- Informal
2
3.5
- Informal
19
3.7
- Informal
4
5.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
clear + sailing
The phrase combines 'clear' (unobstructed) with 'sailing' (the act of voyaging), so a learner who knows both words can readily infer the image of an unobstructed voyage and thus understand it as easy progress. This metaphorical extension is straightforward and cross-linguistically familiar, making the meaning directly derivable from the parts for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Clear sailing comes from old sailors. When the sea was calm and the sky was clear, sailing was easy and ships could move without problems. That's why today clear sailing means 'a situation that is easy and without obstacles'.