takes the wind out of someone's sails

A form of take the wind out of someone's sails — To discourage someone greatly; to cause someone to lose hope or the will to continue; to thwart or minimize someone's ambitions.

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Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of take the wind out of someone's sails
Cite this entry
APA

takes the wind out of someone's sails. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/takes%20the%20wind%20out%20of%20someone's%20sails

MLA

“takes the wind out of someone's sails.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/takes%20the%20wind%20out%20of%20someone's%20sails. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “takes the wind out of someone's sails,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/takes%20the%20wind%20out%20of%20someone's%20sails.

Source: takes the wind out of someone's sails on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.