set sail

Idioms and Phrases

Also, make sail . Begin a voyage on water, as in Dad rented a yacht, and we're about to set sail for the Caribbean , or We'll make sail for the nearest port . These expressions, dating from the early 1500s, originally meant “put the sails in position to catch the wind,” and hence cause the vessel to move.

Example Sentences

When Cal State Fullerton professor Andi Stein set sail on her first Disney Cruise trip to the Bahamas for research more than a decade ago, she was on the fence about the idea.

From Los Angeles Times

The ship anchored off the County Down coast overnight and had been expected to set sail again on Tuesday.

From BBC

Residents recorded videos, expressing joy, as the ship slipped off, excited to set sail.

From BBC

After more than four months of delays, Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey set sail on Monday.

From BBC

It had been expected to set sail again on Tuesday, but passengers were told there would be a further delay for final pieces of paperwork to be completed.

From BBC