sail close to the wind

sail close to the wind
{v. phr.} To be on the borderline between legality and illegality. * /The wealthy tycoon sailed close to the wind during Prohibition./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • sail close near the wind — Ⅰ. ► sail close to (or near) the wind 1) sail as nearly against the wind as is consistent with using its force. 2) informal verge on indecency, dishonesty, or disaster. Main Entry: ↑wind Ⅱ. ► sail close to the wind 1) …   English terms dictionary

  • sail close to the wind — Ⅰ. ► sail close to (or near) the wind 1) sail as nearly against the wind as is consistent with using its force. 2) informal verge on indecency, dishonesty, or disaster. Main Entry: ↑wind Ⅱ. ► sail close to the wind 1) …   English terms dictionary

  • sail close to the wind — If you sail close to the wind, you take risks to do something, going close to the limit of what is allowed or acceptable …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • sail close to the wind — I sail close to (or near) the wind sail as nearly against the wind as possible ■ figurative come close to breaking a rule or the law; behave or operate in a risky way II sail close to (or near) the wind 1) Sailing sail as nearly against the wind… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sail close to the wind —    If you sail close to the wind, you take risks to do something, going close to the limit of what is allowed or acceptable.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    If you sail close to the wind, you do something dangerous or act just within the… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • Sail close to the wind —   If you sail close to the wind, you take risks to do something, going close to the limit of what is allowed or acceptable …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • sail close to the wind — 1. to take risks which could cause problems or danger. We may have just enough fuel to get there, but we ll be sailing a bit close to the wind. (often in continuous tenses) 2. to do something that is dangerous or only just legal or acceptable. I… …   New idioms dictionary

  • sail close to the wind — {v. phr.} To be on the borderline between legality and illegality. * /The wealthy tycoon sailed close to the wind during Prohibition./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • sail\ close\ to\ the\ wind — v. phr. To be on the borderline between legality and illegality. The wealthy tycoon sailed close to the wind during Prohibition …   Словарь американских идиом

  • sail close to the wind — idi a) naut. to sail as nearly as possible in the direction from which the wind is blowing b) to practice economy in one s affairs c) to verge on a breach of propriety or decency d) to take a risk …   From formal English to slang

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