Smooth sailing refers to a situation where things are progressing easily and without any difficulties or obstacles.
When do you use "Smooth sailing"?
This phrase is appropriate in contexts where a project, task, or situation is proceeding without issues, such as in business, personal endeavors, or any kind of planning where everything is going according to plan.
"Smooth sailing" Usage Examples
After the initial challenges, the project's development has been smooth sailing since the new team took over.
Once we finalized the budget, it was smooth sailing for the rest of the event planning.
The negotiations went smoothly, and now we can expect smooth sailing during the implementation phase.
With the weather clear and the crew well-prepared, it was smooth sailing for the entire duration of the voyage.
After months of hard work, the launch of the new product was smooth sailing, with no major issues reported.
"Smooth sailing" Explained
The phrase originates from maritime language, where 'smooth sailing' describes calm sea conditions that allow a ship to sail without turbulence. Historically, sailors preferred smooth waters for safe and efficient navigation, which led to the metaphorical use of the term in other contexts to describe any situation that is trouble-free.