plain sailing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Trading oil at present is no plain sailing because transiting a tanker through the Strait of Hormuz is no plain sailing, either.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

The album may have taken less than two weeks to record, but you get the impression from other interviews that the process wasn't entirely plain sailing.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

However, it was not all plain sailing when it became clear he was not going to reach the playing heights achieved by his father.

From BBC • Oct. 31, 2025

Making the switch from YouTube isn't always plain sailing, though, as shown by Mr Beast's 2024 Amazon Prime show Beast Games.

From BBC • Aug. 21, 2025

From that time all has been comparatively plain sailing.

From Tales of the Wonder Club, Volume III by M. Y. Halidom (pseud. Dryasdust)