Trim of sails?

all potted out · Thu Jul 13, 2006 14:17 pm *Trim of sails?*

Dear Teachers,

What I read was:

"Come here, my little mouse."
Bianca knew enough not to come forward. "A mouse doesn't accept invitations from a cat." she said.
"She's got the trim of your sails!" Lucrezia hooted with unprincipled glee.

What does it mean by "got the trim of your sails"?

Yankee · Thu Jul 13, 2006 14:48 pm *Trimming one's sails*

Hi all potted out

I'd understand "She's got the trim of your sails!" to mean "She understands how you think/what you're planning (and therefore knows what to expect)".

Since this isn't an idiom I'd personally use, however, maybe someone else will have a different interpretation. It sounds rather British to me. It may be similar to saying "She's got your number."
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/have+number+on+it

Amy
_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

Mister Micawber · Thu Jul 13, 2006 16:10 pm *Idiom: Trimming one's sails*

.
Not British, I think, APO-- just nautical. Trimming one's sails is getting the sails of a ship set just properly to work the wind efficiently. Getting the trim, as Yankee says, is successfully learning this, i.e. the other person's attitude/personality/purposes.

The image could be carried even further: knowing the trim of the sails implies that one knows where the ship (or adversary) is going, what his plans are.

It is quite a nice metaphor.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

Yankee · Thu Jul 13, 2006 16:42 pm *Trim of sails?*

Outstanding, MM! Your descriptive explanation is quite eloquent. Very Happy

Amy
_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

Tom · Thu Jul 13, 2006 18:09 pm *Trim of sails?*

all potted out · Fri Jul 14, 2006 3:20 am *Another question*

Thanks for your replies. And, here's another question I forgot to ask: what does it mean by "unprincipled glee"?

Conchita · Fri Jul 14, 2006 15:51 pm *Another question*

Tom · Sat Jul 29, 2006 0:07 am *Trim of sails?*

I am sorry to disturb you all again! Sad

Would anyone please answer my question???

Tom

Yankee · Sat Jul 29, 2006 0:27 am *Trim of sails?*

Hi Tom

I'm kind of interested in APO myself. The only thing I know is the abbreviation for "Army Post Office"...

Amy
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

Conchita · Sat Jul 29, 2006 0:29 am *Trim of sails?*

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