keep one's head above water

keep one's head above water
keep one's head above water
1. Lit. to keep from drowning when swimming or floating. (See also get one's head above water.) •

I was so tired I could hardly keep my head above water.

2. Fig. to manage to survive, especially financially. •

We have so little money that we can hardly keep our heads above water.

It's hard to keep your head above water on this much money.

3. Fig. to keep up with one's work. •

It's all I can do to keep my head above water with the work I have. I can't take on any more.

We have so many orders that we can hardly keep our heads above water.

* * *
{v. phr.} To remain solvent; manage to stay out of debt. * /Herb's income declined so drastically that he now has difficulty keeping his head above water./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • keep one's head above water — {v. phr.} To remain solvent; manage to stay out of debt. * /Herb s income declined so drastically that he now has difficulty keeping his head above water./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • keep one's head above water — see under ↑water • • • Main Entry: ↑head keep one s head above water To remain out of difficulty or trouble, esp to keep solvent • • • Main Entry: ↑water * * * avoid succumbing to difficulties, typically debt …   Useful english dictionary

  • keep one's head above water — ► keep one s head above water avoid succumbing to difficulties. Main Entry: ↑head …   English terms dictionary

  • keep one's head above water, — idi keep one s head above water, to stay out of financial difficulties …   From formal English to slang

  • To keep one's head above water — Water Wa ter (w[add] t[ e]r), n. [AS. w[ae]ter; akin to OS. watar, OFries. wetir, weter, LG. & D. water, G. wasser, OHG. wazzar, Icel. vatn, Sw. vatten, Dan. vand, Goth. wat[=o], O. Slav. & Russ. voda, Gr. y dwr, Skr. udan water, ud to wet, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • keep one's head above water — verb To survive or endure, especially in a situation in which one is struggling to avoid being overwhelmed by adverse financial circumstances. Blessed be God that ministreth ever some comfort to sweeten the calamities of life, and to keep the… …   Wiktionary

  • keep one's head above water — have the ability to pay one s bills He is having trouble keeping his head above water since his salary has decreased …   Idioms and examples

  • keep\ one's\ head\ above\ water — v. phr. To remain solvent; manage to stay out of debt. Herb s income declined so drastically that he now has difficulty keeping his head above water …   Словарь американских идиом

  • keep one's head above water — avoid succumbing to difficulties. → head …   English new terms dictionary

  • keep one's head above water — avoid failure, avoid loss, avoid depression …   English contemporary dictionary

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