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Keep One's Head above Water

What Does "Keep One's Head above Water" Mean?

homeidiomsKeep One's Head above Water
"Keep one's head above water" is an English idiom. It means "to manage to survive, especially in difficult financial situations."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "keep one's head above water" used in a sentence:
  • With all these bills, I'm barely keeping my head above water.
  • He took on a second job just to keep his head above water.
  • Many businesses are struggling to keep their heads above water during the economic downturn.
meaning for keep one's head above water

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Keep One's Head above Water" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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