Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb nautical To sail in a direction close to that from which the wind is blowing, but still making
headway - verb idiomatic To
behave in a manner that is on theverge of beingdangerous ,improper orillegal
Etymologies
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Examples
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reesetee commented on the word sail close to the wind
To do something that is dangerous or just barely legal. A vessel that's sailing close to the wind will sail more slowly and runs the risk of being put about (turned) on the wrong tack by even a slight wind shift.
January 9, 2008