追(お)い風(かぜ)

おいかぜ
noun
tailwind; favorable wind; boost
weather
1. tailwind; following wind
Wind blowing in the same direction one is traveling, making movement easier.
The ship moves forward with the tailwind.
A record was set thanks to a strong tailwind.
In track sprints, if the tailwind exceeds two meters per second, the record is not officially recognized.
2. boost; favorable conditions; advantage
Figuratively, circumstances that help or promote progress toward a goal.
A weak yen provides a tailwind for exports.
Performance grew thanks to favorable government policies.
The spread of remote work became a major boost for IT companies.

Compound of 追(お)い (chasing, following) + 風(かぜ) (wind). Antonym: 向(む)かい風(かぜ) (headwind; adversity).

Common collocations

  • 追(お)い風(かぜ)を受(う)ける (to catch a tailwind; to benefit from favorable conditions)
  • 追(お)い風(かぜ)になる (to become a tailwind/advantage)
  • 追(お)い風(かぜ)に乗(の)る (to ride a tailwind)

Usage

The figurative sense is very common in business and economic reporting. 追(お)い風(かぜ) and 向(む)かい風(かぜ) are frequently paired as metaphors for favorable and unfavorable conditions.