smooth sailing

Idioms and Phrases

Easy progress, as in We had a hard time setting up the new computer system but it'll be smooth sailing from here on . The smooth in this idiom alludes to calm waters, free from big waves or roughness, a usage dating from the late 1300s. The transfer to other kinds of easy progress dates from the second half of the 1900s. Also see plain sailing .

Example Sentences

It won’t always be smooth sailing for Trump in Congress, however, as our correspondent Gary O’Donoghue explains here.

From BBC

I’m not saying it’ll be smooth sailing.

From Slate

While much of this week’s news could spell trouble for Harris and the Democrats, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Trump.

From BBC

However, it has not been smooth sailing for the shipyard over the past few decades and Harland and Wolff has now gone into administration for the second time in five years.

From BBC

It’s smooth sailing, across her full name.

From Slate

Related Words

• aplomb
• composure
• dexterity
• efficiency
• familiarity
• flexibility
• fluency
• nonchalance
• poise
• quickness
• simplicity