trim one's sails to the wind; be an opportunist
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
trim one's sails to the wind; adapt one's actions to the prevailing circumstances
derogatoryOften used in a derogatory sense to criticize someone who lacks principles and changes their stance based purely on self-interest and the current situation.
Tā他
shì是
gè个
kàn看
fēng风
shǐ使
duò舵
de的
rén人
，
háo毫
wú无
yuán原
zé则
kě可
yán言
。
He is an opportunist who trims his sails to the wind, with no principles to speak of.
Zài在
fù复
zá杂
de的
huán环
jìng境
lǐ里
，
yǒu有
shí时
hou候
bù不
dé得
bù不
xué学
huì会
kàn看
fēng风
shǐ使
duò舵
。
In a complex environment, sometimes one has no choice but to learn to adapt to the circumstances.
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Nà那
xiē些
kàn看
fēng风
shǐ使
duò舵
de的
zhèng政
kè客
zuì最
zhōng终
huì会
shī失
qù去
mín民
zhòng众
de的
xìn信
rèn任
。
Those opportunistic politicians will eventually lose the trust of the people.