English Explanatory Dictionary

take the wind out of someone's sails

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To discourage someone greatly; to cause someone to lose hope or the will to continue; to thwart or minimize someone's ambitions.

Pronunciation

En-au-take the wind out of someone's sails.ogg

Word forms

take the wind out of someone's sails takes the wind out of someone's sails taking the wind out of someone's sails took the wind out of someone's sails taken the wind out of someone's sails knock the wind out of someone's sails

Etymology

Referring to the idea of a ship that intercepts the wind of another, causing it to slow or stop.

Synonyms

deflate flummox stultify stymie thwart

Related words

cut the ground from under someone's feet pull the rug out from under take the piss
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