luff up
On a boat, to turn the front of the boat toward where the wind is coming from, which makes the sails go floppy.
Meanings
To steer a sailing vessel toward the direction of the wind, causing the sails to shake or lose power.
"The skipper ordered the crew to luff up to slow the boat before entering the harbor."
To intentionally steer toward the wind in order to block or hinder a competing vessel in a race.
"The leading yacht luffed up to prevent the challenger from passing on the windward side."
Highly specialized nautical/sailing terminology. Almost exclusively used in sailing contexts. The 'luff' refers to the leading edge of a sail or the act of steering into the wind. Not used outside of sailing discourse. ESL learners will only encounter this in sailing manuals, racing instructions, or maritime fiction.
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Forms
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Synonyms
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