sailed through

USAGE SUMMARY

"sailed through" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiom that can be used when discussing an activity that was done really well and with great ease. For example: "Sandy sailed through her exams and achieved excellent results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Previous reauthorizations sailed through Congress.

The New York Times

And he sailed through.

The New York Times - Books

Some measures sailed through.

The New York Times

His nomination sailed through the Senate.

The New York Times

The oaks sailed through all these extremes.

The New York Times

The resolution sailed through the Tennessee Senate.

The New York Times

The government's amendments sailed through.

The Guardian - Opinion

His economic changes sailed through Congress.

The New York Times

The bill sailed through both chambers.

The New York Times

"Otherwise, it would have just sailed through".

The Guardian - Opinion

The bill sailed through the Legislature.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sailed through" to emphasize the ease and lack of difficulty in completing something. It's particularly effective when contrasting expectations of difficulty with the reality of a simple, straightforward process.

Common error

While "sailed through" is widely accepted, avoid using it excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise language when describing the completion of complex tasks in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sailed through" is as a phrasal verb, often used to modify another verb describing an action. According to Ludwig AI, this idiom describes completing an activity with ease and success. The examples in Ludwig show it being used to describe passing exams, legislative processes, and even physical challenges.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Arts

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sailed through" is a phrasal verb indicating effortless success, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. It functions primarily to modify other verbs, adding a sense of ease and lack of difficulty to the action. Its usage is frequent in news and media contexts, making it generally neutral in register. While grammatically correct and widely understood, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or scientific writing. Examples show it applied to diverse scenarios, such as passing exams, legislative processes, and overcoming challenges. The primary contexts are News & Media and Arts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

breezed through

Indicates a very easy and quick completion, emphasizing effortlessness.

passed with flying colors

Highlights not only passing but also excelling in a particular task or exam.

aced

Specifically implies achieving top marks or success in an exam or test.

easily cleared

Emphasizes the lack of difficulty in overcoming a hurdle or requirement.

sailed past

Implies easily overtaking or surpassing something or someone.

effortlessly completed

Focuses on the absence of struggle or strain in finishing a task.

glided through

Suggests a smooth and graceful progression through a task, similar to sailing.

had no trouble with

Highlights the lack of problems encountered during an activity.

made short work of

Implies dealing with something quickly and efficiently.

sailed over

Implies overcoming an obstacle or difficulty with ease.

FAQs

How can I use "sailed through" in a sentence?

Use "sailed through" to describe an experience that was completed easily and successfully. For example, "She "breezed through" her presentation without any issues".

What does "sailed through" mean?

"Sailed through" means to accomplish something easily and successfully, often without encountering any significant problems or obstacles. Similar to "acing" a test.

Which is correct, "sailed through" or "passed through"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings. "Passed through" means to move through something, while "sailed through" means to complete something easily. Therefore, you can "travelled through" the tunnel, but you "easily completed" the exam.

What can I say instead of "sailed through"?

You can use alternatives like ""breezed through"", "aced", or "easily cleared" depending on the context.