take the wind out of someone's sails

take the wind out of someone's sails
To discourage someone greatly; to cause someone to lose hope or the will to continue.

It really took the wind out of his sails to know that even if he won the match, he could only place fourth in the tournament.


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  • take the wind out of someone's sails — To deprive someone of an advantage, to frustrate or discomfit someone • • • Main Entry: ↑wind * * * take the wind out of someone’s sails phrase to make someone feel less confident, usually by saying or doing something unexpected Thesaurus: to… …   Useful english dictionary

  • take the wind out of someone's sails — take the wind out of (someone s) sails to make someone feel less confident or less determined to do something, usually by saying or doing something that they are not expecting. I was going to tell him the relationship was over when he greeted me… …   New idioms dictionary

  • take the wind out of someone's sails — ► take the wind out of someone s sails frustrate someone by anticipating an action or remark. Main Entry: ↑wind …   English terms dictionary

  • take the wind out of someone’s sails — tv. o put a barrier in someone’s path; to reduce the effectiveness of someone. □ When the cops showed Bart the evidence, it took the wind out of his sails. □ It really took the wind out of his sails when he didn’t get promoted …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • take the wind out of one's sails — {v. phr.} To surprise someone by doing better or by catching him in an error. * /John came home boasting about the fish he had caught; it took the wind out of his sails when he found his little sister had caught a bigger one./ * /Dick took the… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the wind out of one's sails — {v. phr.} To surprise someone by doing better or by catching him in an error. * /John came home boasting about the fish he had caught; it took the wind out of his sails when he found his little sister had caught a bigger one./ * /Dick took the… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take\ the\ wind\ out\ of\ one's\ sails — v. phr. To surprise someone by doing better or by catching him in an error. John came home boasting about the fish he had caught; it took the wind out of his sails when he found his little sister had caught a bigger one. Dick took the wind out of …   Словарь американских идиом

  • take the wind out of someone's sails — frustrate someone by anticipating an action or remark. → wind …   English new terms dictionary

  • take the wind out of someone's sails — to make someone feel less confident, usually by saying or doing something unexpected …   English dictionary

  • take the wind out of one's sails — Digest 16/2002 to ruin or destroy someone s high expectations I was hoping to be accepted by that university. When the rejection letter arrived, it really took the wind out of my sails. The expression probably originates from the sport of racing… …   Idioms and examples

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