trim one's sails
The idiom "trim one's sails" originates from nautical practices and has evolved to describe adapting to changing circumstances.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
C1Nautical
(technical, literal)To adjust a ship's sails to optimize their angle and shape for the best wind conditions.
Example
- The captain ordered the crew to trim the sails as the wind shifted.
C1General
(figurative)To adapt one's actions or plans to suit changing circumstances, often by reducing expectations or making cutbacks.
Example
- With the new budget cuts, the company had to trim its sails and reduce expenditures.
- After the market crash, many investors had to trim their sails and rethink their strategies.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "trim one's sails":
make sailstrike sailsail close to the windclear the decksbatten downrein upchange tackunder sailclose to the windstrike one's flagsteady hand on the tillerlie on the oarscut down to sizeput one's house in ordertake up the slack