keep (one's) head above water

1. Literally, to hold one's head out of the water as to avoid drowning. This lifejacket will help Sally to keep her head above water in the pool.

2. To (barely) avoid being consumed by a stressful or unpleasant situation (often related to work or finance). If credit cards are the only thing keeping your head above water, then your situation is more dire than I thought.

See also: above, head, keep, water

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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.

See also: above, head, keep, water

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

head above water, keep one's

Stay out of trouble, especially financial difficulties; also, keep up with work or other demands. For example, With new bills coming in every day they're barely keeping their heads above water, or The work's piling up, but I manage to keep my head above water. This expression alludes to keeping oneself from drowning. [Early 1700s] Also see in deep.

keep your head above water

COMMON If you keep your head above water, you have just enough money to live on or to continue with a business. Thousands of small businesses are struggling to keep their heads above water. I need two jobs just to keep my head above water.

See also: above, head, keep, water

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

keep your head above water

avoid succumbing to difficulties, especially falling into debt.

See also: above, head, keep, water

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

keep your ˈhead above water

succeed in staying out of debt; manage to deal with tasks, responsibilities, etc: The company had great difficulty keeping its head above water during the economic crisis. I don’t know how she manages to keep her head above water. She has so much to do.

See also: above, head, keep, water

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

See also:

head above water, keep one's
keep head above water
keep your head above water
get (one's) head above water
get head above water and have head above water
have (one's) head above water
head first
headfirst
fat
keep (one's) head on a swivel

词组	keep (one's) head above water
释义	keep (one's) head above water keep (one's) head above water 1. Literally, to hold one's head out of the water as to avoid drowning. This lifejacket will help Sally to keep her head above water in the pool. 2. To (barely) avoid being consumed by a stressful or unpleasant situation (often related to work or finance). If credit cards are the only thing keeping your head above water, then your situation is more dire than I thought. See also: above, head, keep, water Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. 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. See also: above, head, keep, water McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. head above water, keep one's Stay out of trouble, especially financial difficulties; also, keep up with work or other demands. For example, With new bills coming in every day they're barely keeping their heads above water, or The work's piling up, but I manage to keep my head above water. This expression alludes to keeping oneself from drowning. [Early 1700s] Also see in deep. See also: above, head, keep The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. keep your head above water COMMON If you keep your head above water, you have just enough money to live on or to continue with a business. Thousands of small businesses are struggling to keep their heads above water. I need two jobs just to keep my head above water. See also: above, head, keep, water Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. keep your head above water avoid succumbing to difficulties, especially falling into debt. See also: above, head, keep, water Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary keep your ˈhead above water succeed in staying out of debt; manage to deal with tasks, responsibilities, etc: The company had great difficulty keeping its head above water during the economic crisis. I don’t know how she manages to keep her head above water. She has so much to do. See also: above, head, keep, water Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: head above water, keep one's keep head above water keep your head above water get (one's) head above water get head above water and have head above water have (one's) head above water head first headfirst fat keep (one's) head on a swivel
随便看	become grounds for (something) become hip to (someone or something) become infatuated with (someone or something) become involved with (something) become of become of (one) become one flesh be/come on stream become pushed for cash become pushed for money become pushed for time become reconciled with (someone or something) be/come to the fore case the joint cash cash-and-carry cash cow cash down cashed cash flow cash flow problem cash in cash in checks cash in chips cash in hand