full sail

All sails deployed

Full sail describes a ship or boat with all its sails extended and catching the wind, achieving maximum speed and power.

The phrase extends figuratively to mean proceeding with full force, energy, or commitment: The campaign launched full sail into the final weeks before the election.

As an adverb, it modifies verbs of motion: The fleet advanced full sail toward the harbor.

nautical

mainsail

Principal vessel canvas

jib · halyard · boom · yacht · schooner · clipper · galleon · ketch · barque · seafaring

speed

breakneck

Recklessly high speed

barreling · careening · hurtling · streaking · tearing · flying · bounding · sprinting · rushing · blazing

Categories
Opposites
sail configuration/wind angle

full sailclose-hauled

Sailing near wind's eye

beating · in irons · close to the wind · windward · on the wind

sail deployment/extent

full sailreefed

Reduced sail area

furled

speed/momentum

full saildead in the water

Unable to proceed further

becalmed · adrift · at anchor · crawling · standing still

Family

full, sail, fully, fullness, fuller, fullest, sails, sailed, sailing

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G