trimming one's sails
Adjusting to circumstances
Trimming one's sails means adjusting one's behavior, spending, or ambitions to suit changed circumstances—typically more constrained ones.
The expression comes from sailing, where trimming sails means adjusting them to catch the wind efficiently.
When someone trims their sails, they're being pragmatic rather than stubborn, adapting to reality rather than fighting it.
After the layoffs, we all had to trim our sails a bit.
The phrase often implies a reluctant but sensible reduction in expectations or expenditure.
- tackingAngled sailing maneuver
- change courseModify one's trajectory
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
- jibingMatching in agreement
- reefingReducing sail area
reassess · accommodate · compromise · furling · recalibrate · negotiate · make do · adjust · pivot · cutback · retrench · improvise · prudence · play it safe · belt tightening · tighten the purse strings · economize · modify
trimming one's sailsdoubling down
Strengthening a risky commitment
digging in one's heels · throwing caution to the wind · damn the torpedoes · going all in · betting the farm
trimming one's sailsoverextending
Going beyond safe capacity
overreaching · living beyond one's means · splurging · biting off more than one can chew · living large
trimming one's sailsthrowing caution to the wind
taking the plunge · going out on a limb · pushing one's luck · rolling the dice · shooting the moon
trimming, trimmed, trims, trimmer, sails, sailing, sailed, sailor, sailors