to windward

Idioms and Phrases

Toward an advantageous position, as in We were hoping to get to windward of the situation . This expression transfers the nautical meaning of the phrase, “move in the direction from which the wind blows,” to other kinds of undertaking. Its figurative use dates from the late 1700s.

Example Sentences

This was laying an anchor to-windward, as it turned out, in the end.

From Project Gutenberg