take the wind out of one's sails
take the wind out of (one's) sails
1. To diminish one's enthusiasm, excitement, or positive outlook (about something). She thought she'd won, but when I told her the letter was a scam, it really took the wind out of her sails. It took the wind out of his sails to learn that nearly half of his bonus would go to taxes.
2. To deprive one of an advantage; to make a situation unfavorable or detrimental for one. The crowd's deafening applause for the home team took the wind out of their opponents' sails. Learning that the boss was letting Jenny give a proposal for the project as well really took the wind out of my sails.
See also: of, out, sail, take, wind
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
take the wind out of one's sails
Hamper or stop one, put one at a disadvantage, as in When they announced they were doing the same study as ours, it took the wind out of our sails , or The applause for the concertmaster took the wind out of the conductor's sails. This expression alludes to sailing to windward of another ship, thereby robbing it of wind for its sails. [Early 1800s]
See also: of, out, sail, take, wind
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- take the wind out of (one's) sails
- take the wind out of sails
- take the wind out of somebody's sails
- take the wind out of someone’s sails
- take the wind out of someone's sails
- knock the wind out of (one's) sails
- knock the wind out of sails
- pin one's hopes on, to
- shake the dust of (something or some place) from (one's) feet
- shake the dust of somewhere from your feet