smooth sailing

idiomatic 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

Examples of smooth sailing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s not been all smooth sailing though, with the pass offense at times looking out of sorts – even receiver AJ Brown called out the lack of passing production during the season – but quarterback Jalen Hurts has made the big plays at the right time and leaned on their No. 2-ranked rushing attack. —Ben Morse, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025

The Brutalist Photo: Focus Features The Oscar nominations were smooth sailing for the immigrant drama, but there may be storm clouds on the horizon. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025

But industry optimism doesn’t ensure smooth sailing for the year ahead. —Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2025

Mystik Dan’s journey from the Kentucky Derby winner’s circle in May to Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. —Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above