sail
gb/sˈeɪl/ us/sˈeɪl/
A2
English
~ 3000
vitorlázik, hajózik, vitorla, suhan, siklik, könnyedén megbirkózik, játszva teljesít, könnyedén átmegy
VERB
A2
1
vitorlázik
B1
hajózik
A2
Usage pattern:
to sail [to/from a place]
We plan to sail across the Atlantic next summer.
Jövő nyáron át szeretnénk vitorlázni az Atlanti-óceánon.
She sailed into the harbor at sunrise.
Napkeltekor bevitorlázott a kikötőbe.
They sailed from New York to London in less than two weeks.
The ship sailed around the island before anchoring.
He learned to sail when he was a teenager.
Learner examples
We will sail to the island tomorrow.
Holnap elvitorlázunk a szigetre.
They like to sail on the lake.
Szeretnek vitorlázni a tavon.
She can sail her small boat.
We sailed from the port to the beach.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sail' (to travel on water) with 'row' (to move a boat using oars).
Meaning
Travel on water using sails
Collocations
sail across
|sail into
|sail around
|sail from
|sail past
Synonyms
navigate (More formal and general term for controlling a vessel's course; can also apply to air or land travel.)
Antonyms
dock (Refers to bringing a vessel to shore and stopping, the opposite of traveling on water.)
Themes
travel
|sports
|transport
|transportation
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move on water in a boat, often using the wind and sails.
To travel across water in a ship or boat, especially one propelled by sails.
NOUN
A2
2
vitorla
A2
The crew worked quickly to raise the sails.
A legénység gyorsan felhúzta a vitorlákat.
A tear in the main sail slowed the boat down.
A nagyvitorlán keletkezett szakadás lelassította a hajót.
They lowered the sails as they approached the dock.
The wind filled the sails and pushed us forward.
Learner examples
The sail is white.
A vitorla fehér.
They put up the sail.
Felhúzták a vitorlát.
The wind moves the sail.
We take down the sail in bad weather.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'sail' (the cloth) with 'sailing' (the activity).
Meaning
Fabric that catches wind on a boat
Collocations
raise the sail
|lower the sail
|hoist the sail
|trim the sail
Synonyms
canvas (Refers to the material itself; in sailing, can mean sails collectively.)
Antonyms
engine (A mechanical means of propulsion, opposite of wind-driven sails.)
Themes
transport
|sports
|transportation
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A big piece of cloth on a boat that uses wind to help the boat move.
A large piece of strong cloth fixed to a boat or ship to catch the wind and make it move.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to sail [through/over/across something]
The ball sailed over the fence.
A labda átsuhant a kerítés fölött.
She sailed past me without noticing.
Elsuhant mellettem, és észre sem vett.
The kite sailed high above the trees.
Learner examples
The bird sailed over the water.
A madár a víz fölött siklott.
The ball sailed into the goal.
A labda besuhant a kapuba.
The leaf sailed down to the ground.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning always involves water; it can also describe movement in air or space.
Meaning
Move smoothly and quickly through air/space
Collocations
sail through the air
|sail over
|sail past
Synonyms
glide (Emphasizes smoothness; may not imply speed.)
Antonyms
plod (To move slowly and without grace, opposite of sailing smoothly.)
Themes
movement
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move fast and smoothly through air or space.
To move smoothly, quickly, and often gracefully through the air or across a surface.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
to sail through [something]
She sailed through her final exams.
Könnyedén átment a záróvizsgáin.
They sailed through the interview and got the job.
Könnyedén vették az interjút, és megkapták az állást.
He sailed through life without many problems.
Learner examples
I sailed through the test.
Könnyedén átmentem a teszten.
She sailed through her work today.
Ma könnyedén megbirkózott a munkájával.
They sailed through the game.
Common mistake:
Learners may take 'sail through' literally instead of understanding it as an idiom for ease of success.
Meaning
Succeed easily at something
Collocations
sail through exams
|sail through life
Synonyms
ace (Informal; to do extremely well, especially in a test or competition.)
Antonyms
struggle (To have difficulty doing something, opposite of succeeding easily.)
Themes
success
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To do something very easily and without problems.
To do something successfully and with little effort.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sail
IPA
GB/sˈeɪl/
US/sˈeɪl/
Syllables & stress
sail (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (sail)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sail
- Plural: sail, sails
Verb
- Base: sail
- 3rd Person Singular: sails
- Present Participle: sailing
- Past: sailed
Word family
Expressions
plain sailing
1/plˈeɪn sˈeɪlɪŋ/
idiom
Easy and without problems
When something is going well and without trouble after it has started.
Examples
- Once we fixed the engine, it was plain sailing for the rest of the trip.
- After the first few weeks, work was plain sailing.
plain sailing
1/plˈeɪn sˈeɪlɪŋ/
idiom
easy progress without problems
easy, with no problems
Examples
- The first few weeks were fine, but it hasn’t been plain sailing since.
- Getting the permit sounded simple, but it was far from plain sailing.
Learner examples
- The project is not plain sailing.
sail through something
1/sˈeɪl θɹˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
Complete something easily/successfully
To do something without difficulty or problems.
Examples
- She sailed through her driving test.
- We sailed through customs without any delays.
set sail
1/sˈɛt sˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
Begin a journey by boat/ship
To start traveling on water in a boat or ship.
Examples
- They set sail for Greece early in the morning.
- The explorers set sail in search of new lands.
under sail
1/ˈʌndɚ sˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
technical
Moving with sails catching wind
When a boat is moving because its sails are using the wind.
Examples
- The yacht was under sail for three hours before reaching port.
- Several ships were under sail near the horizon.