sink or swim
idiom
—used to refer to a situation in which someone either must succeed by his or her own efforts or fail completely
They left me to sink or swim on my own.
In this job, it's sink or swim.
Examples of sink or swim in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While the Angels manager, Ron Washington, has been sidelined due to health issues, the Angels are in sink or swim mode heading to the trade deadline.
—
Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
The rest, in an era of lax to nonexistent child labor laws, had long since been tossed into the workforce to sink or swim or lose a hand in a factory mishap.
—Bruce Handy, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Arsenal at home on weekend one — August 16 to August 19 — is sink or swim for Manchester United.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 18 June 2025
And Zaslav is putting the old-fashioned cable channels on their own life raft to sink or swim on their own.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 9 June 2025
Will Arne Slot sink or swim as Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Liverpool?
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024
In a crisis, companies can sink or swim and must proactively and carefully communicate with internal audiences and external stakeholders with both clarity and transparency.
—Michele Dobnikar, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
Moore likely will be fast-tracked to the big leagues to sink or swim with first baseman Nolan Schanuel to his left and shortstop Zach Neto to his right, fellow first-rounders rushed to Anaheim who so far are doggy-paddling like mad to keep their heads above water.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2024
Player to watch in camp: Bryce Young The Panthers will sink or swim with Young’s development.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2024
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Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
The rest, in an era of lax to nonexistent child labor laws, had long since been tossed into the workforce to sink or swim or lose a hand in a factory mishap.
—Bruce Handy, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Arsenal at home on weekend one — August 16 to August 19 — is sink or swim for Manchester United.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 18 June 2025
And Zaslav is putting the old-fashioned cable channels on their own life raft to sink or swim on their own.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 9 June 2025
Will Arne Slot sink or swim as Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Liverpool?
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024
In a crisis, companies can sink or swim and must proactively and carefully communicate with internal audiences and external stakeholders with both clarity and transparency.
—Michele Dobnikar, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
Moore likely will be fast-tracked to the big leagues to sink or swim with first baseman Nolan Schanuel to his left and shortstop Zach Neto to his right, fellow first-rounders rushed to Anaheim who so far are doggy-paddling like mad to keep their heads above water.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2024
Player to watch in camp: Bryce Young The Panthers will sink or swim with Young’s development.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Sink or swim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sink%20or%20swim. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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