Take The Wind Out Of Someone’s Sails – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS

When preparing for the IELTS Speaking test, using idiomatic expressions naturally and correctly can boost your score, especially in the Lexical Resource criterion. Today’s idiom, “Take the Wind Out of Someone’s Sails”, is useful when describing situations where someone loses confidence, enthusiasm, or determination because of something unexpected.

Meaning of Take the Wind Out of Someone’s Sails

Definition:
To make someone feel less confident or less determined to continue, usually due to an unexpected action, remark, or situation.

In simpler words, if the wind is taken out of a boat’s sails, the boat stops moving. Similarly, when the idiom is used for people, it means their motivation or energy is reduced.

Origin of the Idiom Take the Wind Out of Someone’s Sails

The idiom originates from sailing. Ships rely on the wind in their sails to move forward. If another ship blocks the wind, the first ship becomes powerless and loses speed. Over time, this idea was adapted into everyday English to describe situations where someone’s enthusiasm or confidence is suddenly diminished.

Usage of Take the Wind Out of Someone’s Sails in Context

Here are some example sentences showing how the idiom is used in the IELTS Speaking: 

• “John was boasting about his salary until he found out others earned more. That really took the wind out of his sails.”
• “I was ready to quit my job, but my boss gave me a promotion instead. It completely took the wind out of my sails.”
• “Learning I was wrong about the whole situation really took the wind out of my sails.”

Pro tip: Use this idiom when describing times you felt demotivated, surprised, or when a situation didn’t go as expected.

When to Use the Idiom Take the Wind Out of Someone’s Sails

You can use this idiom in IELTS Speaking Part 1, Part 2, or IELTS Speaking Part 3 when:

• Talking about a time you lost motivation.
• Describing unexpected situations.
• Discussing challenges that made you feel less confident.
• Idiom Scenarios

Scenario 1:
Sam: Why didn’t you tell him the truth?
Riya: I was about to, but he apologized first. That really took the wind out of my sails.

Scenario 2:
Anita: You seemed so confident about winning. What happened?
Raj: Honestly, seeing the other team’s performance really took the wind out of my sails.

Sample Answer Using the Idiom Take the Wind Out of Someone’s Sails

IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Describe a time when you overcame a fear.

Sample Answer:
One time that comes to mind is when I had to give a presentation in college. I had prepared everything perfectly, but just before I started, one of my classmates made a sarcastic comment about my topic. It really took the wind out of my sails, and for a moment, I felt nervous and unsure of myself. However, I gathered my confidence, focused on my preparation, and went ahead with the presentation. In the end, it went really well, and the teacher praised me for my clarity. That experience taught me not to let unexpected comments shake my confidence.

IELTS Vocabulary Tip for Take the Wind Out of Someone’s Sails

Using idioms like take the wind out of someone’s sails in IELTS Speaking makes your answers sound fluent and expressive. It is especially effective when talking about confidence, motivation, or unexpected experiences.

Exercise: Take the Wind Out of Someone’s Sails

Multiple-Choice Question
Q1: Sally was keen to become an actor, but her teacher’s criticism of her performance _______________.

a) lived out of a suitcase
b) took the wind out of her sails
c) upset the applecart
d) was on thin ice

Correct Answer: b) took the wind out of her sails

Fill-in-the-Blank
Q2: “I was all set to confront him, but his kind gesture completely __________.”

a) Took the wind out of my sails
b) Raised the bar
c) Broke the ice
d) Called it a day

Correct Answer: a) Took the wind out of my sails

To sum up, take the wind out of someone’s sails is a powerful idiom that vividly expresses loss of confidence or enthusiasm due to unexpected circumstances. By using it naturally in your IELTS Speaking answers, you can show advanced vocabulary and leave a strong impression on the examiner. If you're aiming for top scores, follow the IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ to further enhance your vocabulary and overall test performance.