smooth sailing

phrase

: easy progress without impediment or difficulty
After the mix-up was rectified, it was smooth sailing again.Mike Brown
He just kept talking and talking his nonstop sunny talk about what a great summer we were going to have and that he had tons of plans and that we would get caught up as father and son and soon all our rough past would be behind us and we would have nothing but smooth sailing for our future.Jack Ganto

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smooth sailing was in 1824

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Cite this Entry

“Smooth sailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smooth%20sailing. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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