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take the wind out of someone's sails

To discourage someone greatly; to cause someone to lose hope or the will to continue.

Etymology:

  • Referring to the idea of a ship that intercepts the wind of another, causing it to slow or stop.
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It really took the wind out of his sails to know that even if he won the match, he could only place fourth in the tournament.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to take the wind out of someone's sails

take the wheeltake to the cleanerstake the veiltake this job and shove ittake to hearttake to one's heelstake totake totake the pisstake totake to tasktake the reinstake the pointtake to something like a duck to water

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    "take the wind out of someone's sails." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/take-the-wind-out-of-someones-sails_7333>.

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