| 释义 |
DictionarySeewindtake the wind out of (one's) sails
take the wind out of (one's) sails1. To diminish one's enthusiasm, excitement, or positive outlook (about something). She thought she'd won, but when I told her the letter was a scam, it really took the wind out of her sails. It took the wind out of his sails to learn that nearly half of his bonus would go to taxes.2. To deprive one of an advantage; to make a situation unfavorable or detrimental for one. The crowd's deafening applause for the home team took the wind out of their opponents' sails. Learning that the boss was letting Jenny give a proposal for the project as well really took the wind out of my sails.See also: of, out, sail, take, windtake the wind out of someone's sailsFig. to challenge someone's boasting or arrogance. John was bragging about how much money he earned until he learned that most of us make more. That took the wind out of his sails. Learning that one has been totally wrong about something can really take the wind out of one's sails.See also: of, out, sail, take, windtake the wind out of one's sailsHamper or stop one, put one at a disadvantage, as in When they announced they were doing the same study as ours, it took the wind out of our sails , or The applause for the concertmaster took the wind out of the conductor's sails. This expression alludes to sailing to windward of another ship, thereby robbing it of wind for its sails. [Early 1800s] See also: of, out, sail, take, windtake the wind out of someone's sails BRITISH, AMERICAN or take the wind out of someone's sail AMERICANIf something takes the wind out of your sails, it makes you suddenly feel much less confident or determined in what you are doing or saying. The disappointment of that defeat took the wind out of our sails for a while. She suddenly apologized and it took the wind out of my sails. He missed the shot and it seemed to take a little wind out of his sail.See also: of, out, sail, take, windtake the wind out of someone's sails frustrate a person by unexpectedly anticipating an action or remark. 1977 Eva Figes Nelly's Version She could so easily have taken the wind out of my sails and put me in my place for good. See also: of, out, sail, take, windtake the ˈwind out of somebody’s sails (informal) make somebody suddenly less confident or angry, especially when you do or say something that they do not expect: When he just smiled and agreed with her, it rather took the wind out of her sails.See also: of, out, sail, take, windtake the wind out of someone’s sails tv. to put a barrier in someone’s path; to reduce the effectiveness of someone. When the cops showed Bart the evidence, it took the wind out of his sails. See also: of, out, sail, take, wind take the wind out of (one's) sails To rob of an advantage; deflate.See also: of, out, sail, take, wind |