Trim your sails

usgb
verb phrase

To adjust one's behavior or attitude to suit the situation.

After receiving negative feedback, he decided to trim his sails and be more considerate to his coworkers.
Visual representation of "trim your sails" - To adjust one's behavior or attitude to suit the situation

Often appears as...

  • decide to trim your sails
  • need to trim your sails

Usage tips

Idiomatic

Definition 1 of 3
Visual representation of "trim your sails"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Adapt Flexibly

The phrase suggests a smooth and strategic change in behavior, not an abrupt one.

Illustration for Adapt Flexibly
When joining a new team, trim your sails to understand their workflow.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Social Context

Use the phrase when discussing social or workplace adjustments.

Illustration for Social Context
After the merger, employees needed to trim their sails to the new culture.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Subtle Changes

The changes implied are often about fine-tuning rather than complete changes.

Illustration for Subtle Changes
The manager trimmed his sails by listening more to his team's ideas.
Visual representation of the word "Trim your sails"

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