sink or swim
1
to be left in a situation where one either succeeds or fails
The origin of this idiom comes from swimming, where a person is either able to stay afloat and swim or will sink and drown. The idiom is used to describe a situation where someone is left with no choice but to succeed or fail on their own, without any help or support. The phrase suggests that the situation is challenging, and that the outcome is uncertain, but that the person must do their best to succeed.
- He had to sink or swim in the new job, with no training provided.
- The challenge was clear: it was time to sink or swim in this new venture.
- They’re about to sink or swim in this high-stakes competition.
- They just sink or swam on the spot, with no support or mentoring at all.
- When she joined the team, the manager decided to sink or swim her on the first project.