sink or swim en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Possibly from the practice of throwing a suspected witch into water.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To succeed through one's own efforts without support, or else fail completely.
"No matter, we are going, live or die, sink or swim; and I shall expect to meet you, all booted and spurred and fit for the fight, April first," said the unwavering Amanda.
1872, Louisa May Alcott, chapter 1, in Shawl-Straps:"Now, come, Pinto, we're all in this, sink or swim."
1920, Edgar Wallace, chapter 35, in Jack O' Judgment:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sinks or swims | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| sunk or swum | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| sinking or swimming | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| sank or swam | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (7)
pl wóz albo przewóz (to fail or succeed, on a project attempted) · vi được ăn cả, ngã về không (to fail or succeed, on a project attempted) · fr marche ou crève (to fail or succeed, on a project attempted) · fi mennä syteen tai saveen (to fail or succeed, on a project attempted) · nl erop of eronder (to fail or succeed, on a project attempted) · ru па́н и́ли пропа́л (to fail or succeed, on a project attempted) · sv bära eller brista (to fail or succeed, on a project attempted)