plain sailing

/'plein'seiliɳ/

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The phrase "plain sailing" is an idiom in English that means something is easy and goes smoothly without any problems or difficulties. It is often used to describe a situation where, after overcoming a challenge, everything else happens easily.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "plain sailing" when talking about a project, journey, or any task that becomes easy after dealing with an issue.
• Remember to use it in informal contexts, as it is more conversational.

Example:

• "Once we fixed the broken machine, the rest of the work was plain sailing."

Advanced Usage:

In more sophisticated contexts, you might say: - "After the initial hurdles, the project progressed with plain sailing, allowing the team to meet the deadline comfortably."

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "plain sailing," but the word "plain" itself can mean clear or simple, and "sailing" can refer to the act of traveling by boat, metaphorically suggesting smooth progress.

Different Meanings:

While "plain sailing" primarily refers to easy progress, it does not have other meanings. However, "plain" can mean simple or clear, and "sailing" can refer to the actual activity of sailing a boat.

Synonyms:

• Smooth sailing
• Easy going
• Trouble-free progress

Idioms:

• "Smooth sailing" is a similar idiom that conveys the same meaning.
• "No-brainer" can also express that something is very easy to understand or do.

Phrasal Verbs:

There are no specific phrasal verbs that directly relate to "plain sailing," but you might encounter: - "Sail through" - which means to do something very easily. - Example: "She sailed through the exam with high marks."

Conclusion:

In summary, "plain sailing" is a useful idiom for expressing that something is easy and goes well after facing a challenge.

Academic

Noun

1. easy unobstructed progress
   • after we solved that problem the rest was plain sailing

Synonyms

• clear sailing
• easy going