take the wind out of someone’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 someone’s sails
tv. to put a barrier in someone’s path; to reduce the effectiveness of someone. When the cops showed Bart the evidence, it took the wind out of his sails.
See also: of, out, sail, take, wind
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- take the wind out of (one's) sails
- 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
- 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