sink or swim

sink or swim
sink or swim
Fig. to fail or succeed. (Alludes to the choices available to someone who has fallen into the water.) •

After I've studied and learned all I can, I have to take the test and sink or swim.

It's too late to help John now. It's sink or swim for him.

* * *
{v. phr.} To succeed or fail by your own efforts, without help or interference from anyone else; fail if you don't work hard to succeed. * /When Joe was fourteen, his parents died, and he was left by himself to sink or swim./ * /Tom's new job was confusing and no one had time to help him learn, so he had to sink or swim./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • Sink or Swim — may refer to:In games: * Sink or Swim (video game), a 1993 game also known as S.S. Lucifer: Man Overboard! In music: * Sink or Swim (The Waifs album) * Sink or Swim (Gaslight Anthem album) * Sink or Swim (Over My Dead Body album)In television: *… …   Wikipedia

  • sink or swim — {v. phr.} To succeed or fail by your own efforts, without help or interference from anyone else; fail if you don t work hard to succeed. * /When Joe was fourteen, his parents died, and he was left by himself to sink or swim./ * /Tom s new job was …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Sink or Swim — Éditeur Zeppelin Games, Codemasters Développeur Zeppelin Games, Codemasters Date de sortie 1993 Genre Action, réflexion Mode de jeu …   Wikipédia en Français

  • sink or swim — Of you are left to sink or swim, no one gives you any help and it s up to you whether you fail or succeed …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • sink or swim — ► sink or swim fail or succeed by one s own efforts. Main Entry: ↑sink …   English terms dictionary

  • sink or swim — phrasal 1. : to drown unless one swims if he fall in, good night, or sink or swim Shakespeare 2. : to fail or perish unless one exerts oneself sending him out on his own to sink or swim * * * sink or swim phrase to be left on your own to succeed… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sink N' Swim — Infobox Single Name = Sink N Swim Artist = Plumb Album = Beautiful Lumps of Coal Released = 2004 Format = CD Digital download Radio airplay Recorded = Genre = Pop rock Length = 3:29 (Album Version) Label = Curb Writer = Producer = Certification …   Wikipedia

  • sink or swim —    Of you are left to sink or swim, no one gives you any help and it s up to you whether you fail or succeed.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    If someone has to sink or swim, they have to do something alone, and their success or failure… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • sink\ or\ swim — v. phr. To succeed or fail by your own efforts, without help or interference from anyone else; fail if you don t work hard to succeed. When Joe was fourteen, his parents died, and he was left by himself to sink or swim. Tom s new job was… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • sink or swim — fail or succeed by your own efforts He will have to sink or swim when he begins his new job …   Idioms and examples

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