🗓️ Idiom: Smooth Sailing / Plain Sailing (n)
💬 Meaning
- A situation or process that goes easily and without problems.
- It means everything is running well, with no major issues.
🧠 Example Sentences
- Once the new system was fully installed, it was smooth sailing.
- After the team adapted to the new workflow, the project became plain sailing.
- We expected challenges, but the rollout turned out to be smooth sailing.
🏛️ Origin
Both versions of the idiom come from sailing. “Smooth sailing” refers to calm water and easy movement, while “plain sailing” was a nautical term meaning clear and simple navigation. Today, both are used to describe easy progress.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
After the training was complete, using the new software was __________.
Answer
smooth sailing / plain sailing
2. Choose the correct meaning of “smooth sailing”:
A) Facing constant delays
B) Needing more resources
C) Working through challenges
D) Progressing without problems
Answer
D) Progressing without problems
3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:
“The change management process is now going very easily and without trouble.” → Change the sentence using: smooth sailing
Answer
The change management process is now smooth sailing.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
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