sail into (one)
sail into
1. To enter or arrive into some place or thing in a boat, ship, or plane. The great cliffs of the island rose to greet us as we sailed into the harbor. Apparently we had sailed into a restricted airspace without even realizing it.
2. To enter or arrive into some place or thing an abrupt and nonchalant manner. Janet sailed into the meeting 20 minutes late, acting as though nothing were amiss. I think a lot of people are worried that the new manager will just sail into the office and disrupt the entire way we do things.
See also: sail
sail into (one)
To berate, upbraid, or chastise one; to verbally attack one. The boss really sailed into me about losing that account! The teacher, at her wits' end, sailed into the student when he made the rude noise.
See also: sail
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
sail into someone or something
1. to crash into someone or something with a boat or ship. The boat sailed into the dock, causing considerable damage. I was in my skiff when a larger boat sailed into me.
2. to crash into someone or something. The missile sailed into the soldiers, injuring a few. The car sailed into the lamppost.
See also: sail
sail into someone
Fig. to attack someone; to chastise someone. (Based on sail into someone or something.) The angry coach sailed into the players. The teacher sailed into Timmy for breaking the window.
See also: sail
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
sail into
Attack or criticize vigorously, as in It was part of his technique to sail into the sales force at the start of their end-of-the-year meeting . This term derives from sail in the sense of "move vigorously." [Mid-1800s]
See also: sail
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
sail into
v.
1. To move across the surface of water into some place. Used especially of a sailing vessel or its crew: The ship sailed into the harbor.
2. To move into some place smoothly or effortlessly: The student sailed into the room five minutes late.
3. To attack or criticize someone vigorously: The supervisor sailed into the workers for the shoddy job they were doing.
See also: sail
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
sail into someone
and light into someone in. to beat or scold someone. Jimmy’s mother really sailed into him for breaking the window. The boss lit into his secretary for losing the contract.
See also: sail, someone
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- sail into
- sail in
- sail from some place to some place else
- land at
- arrive back
- sail along
- steam into (some place)
- that ship has sailed
- (it's) better to be late than be dead on time
- bob up