sink or swim

Frequency: 6.57.8 per million words

figurative: to fail or succeed entirely by one's own efforts

sinkVERB (in water, mud, etc.) | PHRASES

Categories:

or swim

Examples (10)

  • In a situation like this, you either sink or swim.
  • When starting a new business, it's often a sink or swim situation.
  • The company threw him into the deep end, telling him he would have to sink or swim.
  • Without any guidance, the new recruits were left to sink or swim on their own.
  • It was a tough challenge, but she knew she had to sink or swim.
  • For many entrepreneurs, the first year is a make-or-break period where they truly sink or swim.
  • The manager adopted a sink or swim approach with his team, expecting them to be self-reliant.
  • After being abandoned, the young bird had to sink or swim to survive.
  • He embraced the new project with a sink or swim mentality, determined to succeed.
  • The government's new policy will force small businesses to sink or swim in the competitive market.