Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

During the board's investigation into the firm's financial records, the auditor noted that the managing director had been sailing close to the wind in his offshore dealings. Which of the following options best conveys the meaning of the underlined idiomatic expression?

  1. acting in a manner that comes dangerously close to breaking rules or legal boundariesAnswer
  2. B
    frequently traveling by sea to manage overseas investment portfolios
  3. C
    expanding corporate operations rapidly despite adverse economic climate
  4. D
    adhering strictly to established corporate governance guidelines and ethical standards

Answer

The expression 'sailing close to the wind' means acting in a manner that comes dangerously close to breaking rules, laws, or acceptable boundaries.
The idiomatic expression 'sailing close to the wind' originates from nautical jargon where sailing too directly into the wind is dangerous and risks stalling the ship. In general usage, particularly in business or legal contexts, it means acting on the outer margin of what is legal, honest, or acceptable. Therefore, the option describing acting in a manner dangerously close to breaking rules accurately conveys the meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined idiom in the sentence context
The idiom is 'sailing close to the wind' within a financial investigation context.
Understanding the figurative nature of nautical idioms used in formal contexts is essential.
2
Analyze the figurative meaning of 'sailing close to the wind'
Nautically, sailing too close to the wind risks losing control or stalling. Figuratively, it refers to taking risks by behaving in a way that is barely acceptable or lawful.
Distinguishing between literal nautical terms and figurative idiomatic usage resolves the task.
3
Evaluate option meanings against the target idiom definition
The option stating 'acting in a manner that comes dangerously close to breaking rules or legal boundaries' matches the definition precisely.
This option correctly captures the sense of impending risk and boundary-pushing inherent to the expression.

Key Concept

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

More questions from this topic