swim against the current

swim against the tide & swim against the current

1. Lit. to swim in a direction opposite to the flow of the water. •

She became exhausted, swimming against the tide.

•

If you really want strenuous exercise, go out in the stream and swim against the current.

2. Fig. to do something that is in opposition to the general movement of things. •

Why can't you cooperate? Do you always have to swim against the tide?

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You always seem to waste your energy swimming against the current.

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or[swim against the stream] {v. phr.} To do the opposite of what most people want to do; go against the way things are happening; struggle upstream. * /The boy who tries to succeed today without an education is swimming against the stream./