close to the wind
1. nautical Into or at a close angle to the direction from which the wind is blowing. We'll be sailing close to the wind, so we need to trim the sails in all the way in order to keep the boat moving forward. It's OK to sail close to the wind as long as the boat is still able to make forward progress. You can tell we're sailing close to the wind because the wind is striking the bow first.
2. dated In a risky or dangerous manner. If you keep sailing so close to the wind, the police are going to arrest you eventually. Wait, she's actually having an affair? Wow, I had no idea she was sailing so close to the wind. Dad's certainly traveling close to the wind in that old junker. He'll be lucky to make it to the end of the street!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
close to the wind
Nautical As close as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing.
close to the wind
Nautical At a close angle into the direction from which the wind is blowing: sailing close to the wind.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.