Meanings
- idiomaticForward momentum; a boost in one's prospects for success due to favorable events or circumstances.
Like the cowboys, cavalry men and settlers of old, the new-model nerd has the wind at his back and a kingdom to claim.
2010 December 16, Xan Brooks, “Film: When the alpha nerds kicked ass”, in Guardian, UK, retrieved 03 Jul 20152 more examples
And the Tulsa symphony credits the station with reversing a decline in ticket sales among younger patrons. "We've got the wind at our back," Mr. Cohn said.
1997 April 7, Andrea Adelson, “Broadening the Appeal of Classical Music Radio”, in New York Times, retrieved 03 Jul 2015Most of the rational world . . . foresaw a smooth ride to victory for Democrats. They had, after all, the wind at their backs from the 2006 midterm elections.
2008 April 23, Amy Sullivan, “A Primary with No End”, in Time, retrieved 03 Jul 2015
Translations
Bulgarian попътен вятър
- попътен вятър (popăten vjatăr)Translations
Latin ventus secundus
- ventus secundusTranslations
Cite this entry
wind at one's back. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wind%20at%20one's%20back
“wind at one's back.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wind%20at%20one's%20back. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “wind at one's back,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wind%20at%20one's%20back.
Source: wind at one's back on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.