Which idiomatic expression correctly completes the sentence below?

Answer:By engaging in aggressive accounting practices that barely bypassed regulatory scrutiny, the board was essentially 【sailing close to the wind】, risking severe penal sanctions if their luck ran out.

Answer

sailing close to the wind

The idiom 'sailing close to the wind' accurately describes taking actions that test the absolute limits of acceptable, safe, or legal conduct. In the given sentence, engaging in aggressive financial practices that barely escape regulatory scrutiny fits this meaning precisely.

Step-by-Step Solution

Analyze the context of the sentence.

The sentence describes taking actions that come dangerously close to breaking the law or incurring regulatory penalties.

Phrases like 'barely bypassed regulatory scrutiny' and 'risking severe penal sanctions' indicate behavior on the verge of illegality or danger.

Select the exact idiomatic expression fitting this contextual meaning.

The idiom 'sailing close to the wind' means acting on the verge of illegal, improper, or dangerous behavior.

This expression originates from maritime terminology where a vessel sails as close to the wind direction as possible without capsizing or stalling, figuratively representing high-risk or borderline illegal conduct.

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Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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