# take the wind out of someone's sails

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-the-wind-out-of-someones-sails
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- His harsh criticism really took the wind out of my sails.
- A flat tire really takes the wind out of your sails on a road trip.
- She was excited about her promotion until her boss took the wind out of her sails by canceling the project.
- The athlete felt ready for the race until a minor injury took the wind out of his sails just two days before the big event.
- The sudden announcement of the budget cuts took the wind out of the team's sails, leaving them feeling defeated just as they neared the finish line.

## Origin

Derived from the nautical manoeuvre of a vessel positioning itself to windward of another. By intercepting the breeze, the pursuing ship leaves the sails of its opponent slack and useless, resulting in a sudden loss of momentum. The mechanical reality of a stalled ship provided the template for the idiom, which entered general usage as a description of a person deprived of their advantage or confidence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.