Swim or sink is a phrase used to describe the situation an individual or organization finds themselves in when they have limited options with regards to their future. It indicates that an entity has come to a point where it must make drastic changes, or risk potential failure. The phrase itself suggests that if the decision made is not the correct one, then there will be dire consequences such as sinking into oblivion or financial ruin.
Table Of Content:
- Sink Or Swim | Definition of Sink Or Swim by Merriam-Webster
- Sink or swim Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
- Sink or swim definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
- sink or swim - English-Spanish Dictionary - WordReference.com
- SINK OR SWIM | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary
- Sink-or-swim - Idioms by The Free Dictionary
- SINK OR SWIM (phrase) definition and synonyms | Macmillan ...
- Sink or Swim: The American Attitude Toward English Learners
- Sink or swim - definition of sink or swim by The Free Dictionary
- SINK OR SWIM English Definition and Meaning | Lexico.com
1. Sink Or Swim | Definition of Sink Or Swim by Merriam-Webster
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sink%20or%20swim
Sink or swim definition is - —used to refer to a situation in which someone either must succeed by his or her own efforts or fail completely.
2. Sink or swim Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sink--or--swim
A sink-or-swim situation is one in which we must save ourselves by our own means or else fail. The image is that of a person thrown into the water without a ...
3. Sink or swim definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sink-or-swim
Sink or swim definition: If you say that someone will have to sink or swim , you mean that they will have to... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and ...
4. sink or swim - English-Spanish Dictionary - WordReference.com
https://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=sink%20or%20swim
sink or swim - Translation to Spanish, pronunciation, and forum discussions.
5. SINK OR SWIM | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/sink-or-swim
4 days ago ... sink or swim ... a situation in which you will fail if you do not make a lot of effort: When we started the business, it was sink or swim.
6. Sink-or-swim - Idioms by The Free Dictionary
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/sink-or-swim
A related idiom, float or sink, was used by Chaucer in the late 1300s; Shakespeare had the current form in 1 Henry IV (1:3): "Or sink or swim." Complete English ...
7. SINK OR SWIM (phrase) definition and synonyms | Macmillan ...
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/sink-or-swim
Definition of SINK OR SWIM (phrase): be left to succeed or fail alone.
8. Sink or Swim: The American Attitude Toward English Learners
https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/sink-or-swim-american-attitude-toward-english-learners/
July 8, 2016. All too often in America, our education system employs a “sink or swim” approach to our English Learners (ELs). This evocative language ...
9. Sink or swim - definition of sink or swim by The Free Dictionary
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/sink+or+swim
Define sink or swim. sink or swim synonyms, sink or swim pronunciation, sink or swim translation, English dictionary definition of sink or swim. v. sank or ...
10. SINK OR SWIM English Definition and Meaning | Lexico.com
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/sink_or_swim
English dictionary definition of SINK OR SWIM along with additional meanings, example sentences, and different ways to say.
What does 'swim or sink' mean?
Swim or sink is a phrase which means that an individual or organization must make a drastic change, otherwise they may suffer the consequences of failure.
How many options are there when it comes to 'swim or sink'?
There are only two options available in this context – swimming (making changes) and sinking (failing).
Is 'swim or sink' applicable only to organizations?
No, swim or sink can be applied to individuals just as much as organizations.
Are there any other phrases similar to 'swim or sink'?
Yes, other expressions such as ‘make-or-break’ and ‘do-or-die’ could also be used for similar situations.
Conclusion:
Swim or sink has become a well-known phrase which is often used to emphasize how important decisive action is for ensuring success. It serves as a reminder of how quickly things can turn from good to bad if the wrong decision is made. The phrase should remind us all of how fragile success can be and how important it is make informed decisions even during tough times.
