(of a sailing vessel) headed directly into the wind without steerageway
See full dictionary entry for irons
in irons in American English
1.
shackled with irons; imprisoned
2. Nautical
headed into the wind with no way on
said of a sailing vessel that has failed to come about
See full dictionary entry for iron
All related terms of 'in irons'
to have irons in the fire
If someone has a lot of irons in the fire , they are involved in several different activities or have several different plans .
have several irons in the fire
to be involved in many projects , activities , etc
have a lot of irons in the fire
to be involved in several different activities or have several different plans at the same time, so that it is likely that something will succeed even if other things fail
irons in the fire to have irons on the fire
If someone has a lot of irons in the fire , they are involved in several different activities or have several different plans .
have many (or several, etc.) irons in the fire
to have or be engaged in many (or several, etc.) activities , enterprises , or the like