sailing
gb/sˈeɪlɪŋ/ us/sˈeɪlɪŋ/
B1
English
vitorlázás, vitorlás, vitorlázási, vitorlázik, száll, repül, suhan
NOUN
B1
1
vitorlázás
B1
Usage pattern:
[do/go] sailing; sailing on [water/place]
She took up sailing after moving near the coast.
Miután a tengerpart közelébe költözött, belevágott a vitorlázásba.
Sailing is one of the most popular summer activities on the lake.
A vitorlázás az egyik legnépszerűbb nyári tevékenység a tavon.
They spend most weekends sailing if the weather is good.
Learner examples
I like sailing in summer.
Szeretek nyáron vitorlázni.
We go sailing on Saturdays.
Szombatonként vitorlázni járunk.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse sailing (using sails) with boating in general (which can include motorboats).
Meaning
traveling in a sailboat
Collocations
go sailing
|take up sailing
|sailing lessons
|sailing club
|competitive sailing
|sailing race
|offshore sailing
|inshore sailing
|sailing instructor
|sailing gear
Synonyms
yachting (Often suggests leisure sailing, sometimes on larger boats.)
|
sailboating (More informal and mainly used in North American English.)
Antonyms
motoring (Traveling by motor, not by sail.)
Themes
sports
|travel
|outdoors
|water
Definition
the sport or activity of using a sailboat
The activity or sport of traveling on water in a boat moved mainly by sails.
NOUN
B2
2
vitorlázás
B1
Usage pattern:
a [short/long] sailing; a sailing to [place]
We went for a short sailing before dinner.
Vacsora előtt elmentünk egy rövid vitorlázásra.
The afternoon sailing was cancelled because of strong winds.
Az erős szél miatt lefújták a délutáni vitorlázást.
Their first sailing across the bay took about three hours.
Learner examples
We went for a sailing today.
Ma elmentünk egyet vitorlázni.
Common mistake:
This sense usually needs an article or modifier (e.g., a short sailing); otherwise sailing often means the activity in general.
Meaning
a short trip by sailboat
Collocations
a short sailing
|an afternoon sailing
|a coastal sailing
|a day sailing
|a sailing trip
|a sailing holiday
|a two-hour sailing
|a morning sailing
Synonyms
voyage (More formal; can be longer and not necessarily by sail.)
|
trip (General word; does not specify traveling by sail.)
Themes
travel
|outdoors
|water
Definition
a trip on a sailboat
A journey or period of time spent traveling in a sailboat.
B2
3
vitorlás
B1
vitorlázási
B2
Usage pattern:
sailing [boat/club/lesson/conditions/gear]
Check the sailing forecast before you leave the harbor.
Nézd meg a vitorlázási előrejelzést, mielőtt kifutsz a kikötőből.
He bought a waterproof sailing jacket for the race.
Vett egy vízálló vitorláskabátot a versenyre.
The hotel offers sailing lessons for beginners.
Learner examples
I need sailing shoes.
Vitorláscipőre van szükségem.
The sailing weather is good today.
Ma jó az idő a vitorlázáshoz.
Common mistake:
Don’t use sailing to mean “traveling” in general; it usually refers to boats with sails or the sport.
Meaning
related to sailing or sailboats
Collocations
sailing boat
|sailing club
|sailing lessons
|sailing conditions
|sailing forecast
|sailing gear
|sailing gloves
|sailing jacket
|sailing experience
|sailing skills
Synonyms
nautical (Broader; related to the sea and ships in general, not only sailing.)
|
maritime (More formal; often used for shipping and sea-related matters.)
Themes
sports
|travel
|outdoors
|water
Definition
about sailing
Connected with traveling by sailboat or with the sport of sailing.
VERB
B1
4
vitorlázik
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is sailing (to/along/past) [place]
We were sailing along the coast when the wind dropped.
Éppen a part mentén vitorláztunk, amikor elállt a szél.
They’re sailing to a small island for the weekend.
A hétvégére elvitorláznak egy kis szigetre.
By noon we were sailing into the harbor.
Learner examples
They are sailing on the sea.
A tengeren vitorláznak.
We are sailing to the island.
A szigetre vitorlázunk.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use sailing for any boat travel; if the boat uses an engine, say boating or taking a boat.
Meaning
traveling by sailboat
Collocations
sailing to an island
|sailing along the coast
|sailing across the lake
|sailing down the river
|sailing into harbor
|sailing at dawn
|sailing in strong winds
|sailing in rough seas
Synonyms
cruising (Often slower and for pleasure; may be by motor or sail.)
Antonyms
docking (Arriving and securing a boat rather than traveling.)
Themes
travel
|outdoors
|water
Definition
traveling in a sailboat
Traveling on water in a boat moved mainly by sails.
VERB
B2
5
Usage pattern:
[something] comes/goes sailing (through/over/past) [place]
A plastic bag came sailing over the fence.
Egy műanyag zacskó átszállt a kerítés fölött.
The ball went sailing into the crowd.
A labda berepült a tömegbe.
One mistake sent the papers sailing across the room.
Learner examples
The ball went sailing over the goal.
A labda elszállt a kapu fölött.
A hat came sailing past me.
Egy kalap suhant el mellettem.
Common mistake:
This is figurative; it doesn’t mean the object has sails.
Meaning
moving smoothly through the air
Collocations
come sailing through
|go sailing over
|send [something] sailing
|the ball went sailing
|papers came sailing
Synonyms
gliding (Emphasizes smooth, quiet movement.)
|
soaring (Often higher and more dramatic, especially for birds or aircraft.)
Antonyms
dropping (Falling straight down rather than moving smoothly forward.)
Themes
movement
|daily_life
Definition
moving smoothly and quickly through the air
Moving quickly and smoothly, especially through the air, as if carried along easily.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sailing
IPA
GB/sˈeɪlɪŋ/
US/sˈeɪlɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
sail - ing (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sail)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sailing
- Plural: sailing, sailings
Expressions
go sailing
1/ɡˈoʊ sˈeɪlɪŋ/
fixed phrase
do sailing for fun or sport
to ride a sailboat for fun or sport
Examples
- We’re going sailing on the lake this afternoon.
- They went sailing off the coast during their vacation.
Learner examples
- I want to go sailing.
- We go sailing on Sundays.
not all plain sailing
1/nˈɑt ˈɔl plˈeɪn sˈeɪlɪŋ/
idiom
not completely easy
not always easy
Examples
- Starting a business is not all plain sailing, even with experience.
- Learning a new language is not all plain sailing, but it’s worth it.
Learner examples
- Moving to a new city is not all plain sailing.
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.
sailing close to the wind
1/sˈeɪlɪŋ klˈoʊs tə ðə wˈɪnd/
idiom
taking risky or questionable actions
doing something risky that may be wrong
Examples
- If you claim those expenses, you may be sailing close to the wind.
- He’s sailing close to the wind by using unlicensed software at work.
smooth sailing
1/smˈuð sˈeɪlɪŋ/
idiom
progress without problems after starting something
When things are going well and there are no problems after you start something.
Examples
- After we solved the initial issues, it was all smooth sailing from there.
- Once you learn the basics, driving becomes smooth sailing.
smooth sailing
1/smˈuð sˈeɪlɪŋ/
idiom
no trouble; everything goes well
everything is easy and going well
Examples
- Once the contract was signed, it was smooth sailing.
- With a good plan, the move should be smooth sailing.
Learner examples
- After the exam, it was smooth sailing.