plain sailing
/ˌpleɪn ˈseɪlɪŋ/INFORMAL · B2
Meaning
easy and without any problems
Examples
- 1Once we'd found the right flat, the rest of the move was plain sailing.
- 2Learning to drive wasn't plain sailing for Priya; she failed her test three times.
- 3The first week of the new job was hard, but since then it's been plain sailing.
- 4Planning the wedding was plain sailing until the venue cancelled two weeks before.
- 5Was the flight home plain sailing, or did you have delays again?
Grammar
It usually follows be, often with not or all. Do not put an article before it. American English says smooth sailing.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about travel
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →a dead enda situation in which no more progress is possiblewater under the bridgepast problems that no longer matter or cause bad feelingshit the roadto leave a place and start a journeyin the middle of nowherefar from any towns, with very few people arounda stone's throwa very short distance awayoff the beaten trackin a quiet place that few visitors go to
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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