swim (redirected from swimmable)

*in the swim of things

Fig. involved in or participating in events or happenings. (*Typically: be ~; get [into]~.) I've been ill, but soon I'll be back in the swim of things. I can't wait to settle down and get into the swim of things.

See also: thing

make someone's head swim and make someone's head spin 

1. Fig. to make someone dizzy or disoriented. Riding the merry-go-round makes my head spin. Breathing the gas made my head swim.

2. Fig. to confuse or overwhelm someone. All these numbers make my head swim. The physics lecture made my head spin.

See also: head, make

out of the swim of things

Fig. not in the middle of activity; not involved in things. (The opposite of in the swim of things.) While I had my cold, I got out of the swim of things. I've been out of the swim of things for a few weeks. Please bring me up-to-date.

See also: out, thing

sink or swim

Fig. to fail or succeed. (Alludes to the choices available to someone who has fallen into the water.) After I've studied and learned all I can, I have to take the test and sink or swim. It's too late to help John now. It's sink or swim for him.

See also: sink

swim against the tide and swim against the current 

1. Lit. to swim in a direction opposite to the flow of the water. She became exhausted, swimming against the tide. If you really want strenuous exercise, go out in the stream and swim against the current.

2. Fig. to do something that is in opposition to the general movement of things. Why can't you cooperate? Do you always have to swim against the tide? You always seem to waste your energy swimming against the current.

See also: against, tide

swim around

to swim here and there. I just like to get into the pool and swim around. I saw only one fish swimming around in your aquarium.

See also: around

swim before someone's eyes

Fig. [for something, such as spots or visions] to appear in one's field of vision. I was getting feverish and spots swam before my eyes. Visions of total destruction swam before my eyes as the bus skidded in the snow.

See also: before, eye

swim for someone or something

to travel toward someone or something by swimming. I swam for George, who was farther out, holding onto a float. I am going to swim for the island.

swim for it

to escape by swimming. (See also run for it.) I escaped from the guard, dived into the river, and swam for it. Max swam for it, but he didn't get away.

swim in something 

1. Lit. to swim in a body of water. Is it safe to swim in this water? Can we swim in your pool?

2. Fig. to experience an overabundance of something. (Not directly related to {2}) We are just swimming in orders right now. Business is good. Mr. Wilson is swimming in money.

swim into something

to enter something swimming. They swam into a lovely grotto. Ted swam into the cove and got out on the beach.

swim toward someone or something

to swim in the direction of someone or something. Jeff swam toward the drowning man and helped him. I swam toward the boat.

See also: toward

swim with something

to swim in the same direction as the movement of water. Fred had no trouble swimming with the current. Please swim with the current and not against it.

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be in the swim (of things)

to know about and be involved in an activity, especially something that is new or changing When the children were little I still did a day's work a week, just to keep me in the swim of things.

See go against the tide

go/swim against the tide

to do the opposite of what most other people are doing It's not easy to go against the tide in defence of your principles. (sometimes + of ) He always seemed to be swimming against the tide of public opinion.

See drift with the tide, stem the tide, turn the tide

See also: against, tide

sink or swim

to fail or succeed Newcomers are given no training - they are simply left to sink or swim.

See also: sink

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swim in something

to have too much of something The company is swimming in cash and trying to figure out what to do with it. Every meal was swimming in grease.