Viento en popa
Wind in the stern.
to be going very well; **to be going very well**; **to be going smoothly**; **to be going from strength to strength**; **to be thriving**; **to be on the right track**; **to be plain sailing**
Ir viento en popa means to be going very well, to be progressing smoothly and successfully, or to be thriving.
El negocio va viento en popa.
The business is thriving.
El proyecto va viento en popa desde que incorporamos al nuevo equipo.
The project has been going from strength to strength since we brought in the new team.
Sus estudios van viento en popa.
His studies are going very well.
La relación entre ambos va viento en popa.
Their relationship is going from strength to strength.
Las obras van viento en popa y terminarán antes de lo previsto.
The work is progressing very well and will be finished ahead of schedule.
It describes a situation, project, business, relationship or undertaking that is developing in a very favourable way.
The usual expression is:
Ir viento en popa.
- a project is progressing very well
- a business is thriving
- studies are going well
- a relationship is developing successfully
- a plan is achieving good results
- circumstances are increasingly favourable
The expression comes directly from navigation and sailing.
The popa is the stern of a ship. When the wind comes from behind, it pushes the vessel forward and helps it make good progress.
The image therefore became a metaphor for favourable circumstances and successful progress.
The expression is related to the nautical world from which many Spanish idioms have entered everyday language.
The expression is normally used with the verb ir:
El proyecto va viento en popa.
It can be applied to almost anything that is progressing favourably:
El negocio va viento en popa.
Las obras van viento en popa.
Su carrera va viento en popa.
It is normally strongly positive.
Spanish contains many everyday expressions inherited from seafaring:
- Ir viento en popa → to be going very well.
- Estar entre la espada y la pared → to be between a rock and a hard place.
- Abandonar el barco → to abandon a failing project or group.
- Llegar a buen puerto → to reach a successful conclusion.
- Navegar entre dos aguas → to sit on the fence / avoid taking sides.
Viento en popa has survived particularly well because its metaphor is immediately understandable: a ship with the wind behind it has favourable conditions for moving forward.
Do not normally translate:
El proyecto va viento en popa.
as:
The project is going wind in stern.
Instead:
The project is going very well.
The project is going from strength to strength.
The project is thriving.
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