How we are handling or feeling about our life. The images in sailing lend themselves to depict human endeavours to work with the tides and influences of life. Dealing well with wind and waves: Suggests being able to meet internal and external pressures, emotions and drives, and using them to advantage. Being overwhelmed or sinking: Finding emotional, sexual drives and anxieties too much to cope with. See: boat and ship. Idioms: Plain sailing; sail against the wind; sail close to the wind; sail into something; sail under false colours; set sail; trim one’s sails; take the wind out of someone sails.
