to-sail-through
/tə seɪl θruː/ IELTSAcademic
phrase
To complete something easily, with little trouble or effort. It often suggests success that feels smooth and confident.
- She sailed through the interview.
- He sailed through the exam.
Adinary Nuance
Use sail through when something is completed very easily. It is stronger and more vivid than pass or finish, which do not always suggest ease. It is different from ace, which usually means doing extremely well, often in exams or tests. It also differs from get through, which can suggest effort or difficulty.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- suôn sẻ vượt qua
- Spanish
- superar fácilmente
- Chinese
- 轻松通过
- Japanese
- 楽に通過する
- Korean
- 쉽게 통과하다
Etymology
This phrase comes from the literal meaning of sailing smoothly across water. It became common in English as a metaphor for easy progress or success.
Common phrases
sail through an examsail through the interviewsail through the process
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is sail through formal or informal?
- It is common in both spoken and written English. It sounds natural in news, work, and exam contexts.
- What is the difference between sail through and pass?
- Pass only means you succeed. Sail through also suggests that it was easy.
- Can I use sail through for jobs and interviews?
- Yes. You can say someone sailed through an interview or a task at work.