1 B1 idiomatic neutral
To pass a test, exam, or interview easily and without difficulty.
"She had studied so hard that she sailed through her driving test on the first attempt."
inseparable
sail through
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
To complete a task, test, or difficult situation very easily and successfully.
In plain English
To do something difficult without any problems, as if it was easy.
What does "sail through" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To progress through a process or competition effortlessly, without obstacles.
"The team sailed through the early rounds of the tournament and reached the final."
inseparable
3 B1 neutral
To move or pass through a place or situation smoothly and without stopping.
"He sailed through the security checkpoint without being stopped."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
A boat sailing smoothly through water — the smoothness transfers to the figurative meaning.
Actually means
To do something difficult without any problems, as if it was easy.
Usage tip
Widely used in British and American English. Commonly collocates with exams, interviews, and stages of a process. Almost always implies a positive, smooth outcome.
Words that pair with "sail through"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
exam interview test inspection round stage
How to conjugate "sail through"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sail through
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sails through
he/she/it
Past simple
sailed through
yesterday
Past participle
sailed through
have + pp
-ing form
sailing through
continuous
Hear "sail through" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "sail through" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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