row upstream

1. To go against or disagree with a prevailing or popularly held opinion or perspective; to act or behave contrary to the majority of others. When I was in college, I really rowed upstream with some radical opinions. As I've grown older, though, I've found myself falling more in line with others. I don't understand why you always have to row upstream. You would make things a lot easier on yourself if you just went along with other people for once!

2. To expend a great deal effort working to overcome some difficulty or opposing force. So many people are being brought into our ER from the train crash. We are really rowing upstream here.