plain\ sailing

plain\ sailing
• plain sailing
• smooth sailing
n. phr.
An uncomplicated, unhampered, or easy course.

For a graduate of such a famous university as he was, that assignment was plain sailing.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • plain sailing — noun uncount something easy to do or achieve: The French won the game, but it wasn t all plain sailing …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • plain sailing — If something is relatively easy and there are no problems doing it, it is plain sailing …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • plain sailing — meaning ‘a straightforward situation or course of action’, is an early 19c alteration of the original (late 17c) phrase plane sailing, which denoted a system of measuring short nautical distances by assuming that the earth s surface is a plane… …   Modern English usage

  • plain sailing — ► NOUN ▪ smooth and easy progress. ORIGIN probably from plane sailing, denoting the practice of determining a ship s position on the theory that it is moving on a plane …   English terms dictionary

  • plain sailing — n. 1. sailing on an unobstructed course 2. a smooth, clear course of action …   English World dictionary

  • plain sailing —    If something is relatively easy and there are no problems doing it, it is plain sailing.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    An activity or task that is plain sailing is without difficulty or free from trouble.     Once the plans were… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • plain sailing — /pleɪn ˈseɪlɪŋ/ (say playn sayling) noun 1. Nautical sailing on a plain course, free from obstruction or difficulty. Compare plane sailing. 2. an easy and unhindered course of action: *the leading jockey knows it won t be plain sailing. –aap news …  

  • plain sailing — 1. Navig. sailing on waters that are free of hazards or obstructions. Cf. plane sailing. 2. an easy and unobstructed way, course, or plan: As an heir to a large fortune, he looked forward to financial plain sailing. [1800 10] * * * …   Universalium

  • plain sailing — noun smooth and easy progress: team building was not all plain sailing. Origin C18: prob. a popular use of plane sailing, the practice of determining a ship s position on the theory that it is moving on a plane …   English new terms dictionary

  • plain sailing — noun easy unobstructed progress after we solved that problem the rest was plain sailing • Syn: ↑clear sailing, ↑easy going • Hypernyms: ↑progress, ↑progression, ↑procession, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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