What Does "Take the Wind Out of Someone's Sails" Mean?
"Take the wind out of someone's sails" is an English idiom. It means "to deflate someone's confidence or enthusiasm by undermining their achievements or plans."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "take the wind out of someone's sails" used in a sentence:- Her critical comments took the wind out of his sails just before his important presentation.
- Taking the wind out of someone's sails can be demoralizing.
- Supportive and constructive feedback is preferred over actions that take the wind out of someone's sails.
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 "Take the Wind Out of Someone's Sails" 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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