to trim the sails

  • 1Trim of sails — Trim Trim, n. 1. Dress; gear; ornaments. [1913 Webster] Seeing him just pass the window in his woodland trim. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] 2. Order; disposition; condition; as, to be in good trim. The trim of an encounter. Chapman. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2trim your sails — trim (your) sails to spend less money. The school is having to trim its sails because of government cutbacks …

    New idioms dictionary

  • 3Trim — Trim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Trimmed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Trimming}.] [OE. trimen, trumen, AS. trymian, trymman, to prepare, dispose, make strong, fr. trum firm, strong; of uncertain origin.] 1. To make trim; to put in due order for any purpose; to… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4trim´ness — trim «trihm», verb, trimmed, trim|ming, adjective, trim|mer, trim|mest, noun, adverb. –v.t. 1. to make neat by cutting away parts: »The gardene …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 5trim´ly — trim «trihm», verb, trimmed, trim|ming, adjective, trim|mer, trim|mest, noun, adverb. –v.t. 1. to make neat by cutting away parts: »The gardene …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 6trim — [trim] vt. trimmed, trimming [via ME dial. < OE trymman, to make firm, set in order, array < trum, strong, firm: for IE base see TREE] 1. Obs. to prepare; fit out; dress 2. to put in proper order; make neat or tidy, esp. by clipping,… …

    English World dictionary

  • 7Trim — Trim, n. 1. Dress; gear; ornaments. [1913 Webster] Seeing him just pass the window in his woodland trim. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] 2. Order; disposition; condition; as, to be in good trim. The trim of an encounter. Chapman. [1913 Webster] 3.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 8Trim of the masts — Trim Trim, n. 1. Dress; gear; ornaments. [1913 Webster] Seeing him just pass the window in his woodland trim. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] 2. Order; disposition; condition; as, to be in good trim. The trim of an encounter. Chapman. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 9trim sails — trim (your) sails to spend less money. The school is having to trim its sails because of government cutbacks …

    New idioms dictionary

  • 10trim — trimly, adv. trimness, n. /trim/, v., trimmed, trimming, n., adj., trimmer, trimmest, adv. v.t. 1. to put into a neat or orderly condition by clipping, paring, pruning, etc.: to trim a hedge. 2. to remove (something superfluous or dispensable) by …

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