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smooth sailing

smooth sailing

Date: Sep 09 2010

Themes: Romance

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

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“We met at a party through a mutual friend, and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.”

- Actress, singer, and newlywed Hilary Duff on how she met her husband. (OK! Magazine)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

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easy time; no problems or obstacles

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

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Relationships aren’t always easy. That is, unless you’re Hilary Duff. She says that her romance with her hockey-playing love Mike Comrie has been smooth sailing since it got started. And that doesn’t mean that they live on a boat.

When we say something is smooth sailing, we mean it is easy or problem-free. Maybe Hilary Duff is exaggerating when she says her relationship with Mike Comrie has always been smooth sailing. Nobody’s perfect, right? But it must be pretty good, since they recently got married.

Smooth sailing isn’t the only English idiom that comes from sailing. Remember the phrase slack off? That’s an expression that comes from sailing, which means to be lazy or not work hard. There’s also go overboard (do more than is necessary), and learn the ropes (come to understand). All these are idioms that originated among sailors but eventually came to be used in everyday life.

If you think about it, it’s not surprising that so many idioms and slang expressions have come from sailing. After all, sailors are known for their colorful language, though not always in a good way. In fact, if someone swears a lot, we say he talks like a sailor. So, be careful. If you talk like a sailor around your boss, it probably won’t be smooth sailing for you at work.

What parts of your life are smooth sailing right now? What things are more difficult?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

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“The first portion of the test was difficult, but after that it was smooth sailing.”

“Try not to worry about your interview. I’m sure it will be smooth sailing.”

“I thought buying a car would be smooth sailing, but it was actually a huge hassle.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

I think she means that was everythink ok, without problems.
by Dirty Rhyme
I think it means their relationship has been smooth and good.
by Mr.Bean's wife
Gellerke everything is great, without problems
by Gellerke
it was easy, without any trouble
by bystander :-)
to be easy and without problems
by Miss Talant

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Comments

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Billsure

Billsure

China

First time here
well…i dont thing i can See clearly here!  my english is so poor!!!!!!god

07:40 AM Sep 01 2012 |

Brunapf

Brunapf

Brazil

I want getting my own stuffs by myself and I know it's will not be smooth sailing but it doesn't matter because the most important thing is that I'll get it!!!! 

12:04 AM Sep 15 2010 |

rosendo

rosendo

Mexico

Cool

09:54 PM Sep 14 2010 |

alighajar

alighajar

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I want to say to brutish men that burn to honorable quran:if you don't have religion, at least be noble.(honor hossein (PBUH)

we blame US government's men becouse they allow this to happen.

10:38 AM Sep 14 2010 |

Seonhee Kim

South Korea

Now I'm really not in the situation to picture smooth sailing in the near future,, but  someday….Trying my best is the only thing I can do right at this moment.. :)

04:40 AM Sep 14 2010 |

saro22

saro22

Egypt

as xzerx said looking for job isn't smooth sailing at all 

01:21 AM Sep 14 2010 |

momo50

Yemen

my yahoo is sallom_2200     @yahoo.com

 

09:38 PM Sep 13 2010 |

momo50

Yemen

my yaho is c 

 

09:37 PM Sep 13 2010 |

goba

goba

Egypt

hi

01:00 PM Sep 13 2010 |

Natalia 1979

Romania

to be ok without problems

04:43 PM Sep 11 2010 |

xzerx

xzerx

Turkey

After i gratueted from school smooth sailing life has been finished, and i am sure that looking for a job is not smooth sailing :)

07:59 PM Sep 10 2010 |

ruanyunbeijing

China

In our life, everyone all have to pass a lot of difficulties to reach goal, you cann't say that in your life is always smooth sailing.If your life is dream, It maybe

03:21 PM Sep 10 2010 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

I can say my life is smooth sailing always bacause I'm a very quiet guy to deal with the things…But there had one moment in my life that was pretty hard,when I served the army…Putz this moment of my life was like a nightmare! hehe I really don't deal well with militarism :P

11:42 PM Sep 09 2010 |

Forrest.Lyon

China

I wish everything will be smooth sailing in my life!  hey  hey…

07:28 PM Sep 09 2010 |

gokuh

gokuh

India

study is not smooth sailing for me. I have to find out the way to overcome it.

03:10 PM Sep 09 2010 |

andee1

andee1

China

marriage is smooth sailing right now to me, and career is more difficult right now to me. that's it.

01:59 PM Sep 09 2010 |

mandark

mandark

Cuba

things are not always in smooth sailing! if the life were so it was a paradise

01:38 PM Sep 09 2010 |

An-china

An-china

Germany

in china ,we always say"人生不如意十有八九"—that means we all have difficult, trouble, may 80-90% things couldn't be very smoothly.

but we all say "smooth sailing" when one wanna go to another place. if we have a good think ,everything will "smooth sailing" in some way.

01:26 PM Sep 09 2010 |

soufian_01

soufian_01

United Kingdom

hmmm

i duno !! we don't live a pink life .but do you know what makes the life sweet ???

it's the troubles !!! when you solve them you feel that you are powerful ,strong , and nothing hard for you we gotta know that we don't live in perfect life . 

11:36 AM Sep 09 2010 |

lorilyn_r@yahoo.com

Philippines

Life is not normal if always runs in smooth sailing. Laughing

06:39 AM Sep 09 2010 |

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