smooth sailing

idiomatic phrase

: easy progress without impediment or difficulty
After the mix-up was rectified, it was smooth sailing again.Mike Brown
He just kept talking and talking his nonstop sunny talk about what a great summer we were going to have and that he had tons of plans and that we would get caught up as father and son and soon all our rough past would be behind us and we would have nothing but smooth sailing for our future.Jack Ganto

Examples of smooth sailing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sea Change Barring a recent dip, it’s been smooth sailing for Yinson Holdings. Jonathan Burgos, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025 Selling the lobsters to residents and tourists proved to be smooth sailing over the decades until late last August. Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2025 However, things are smooth sailing for the couple as they were spotted having dinner with friends in New York City at Crane Club just days before the awards ceremony. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Mar. 2025 Once the theme crystallizes for you, the rest is smooth sailing. Deb Amlen, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for smooth sailing

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smooth sailing was in 1824

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Cite this Entry

“Smooth sailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smooth%20sailing. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

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