tide (redirected from tides)

go with the tide

Fig. to move along with the effect of outside forces. I just go with the tide. I never fight fate. She just goes with the tide, never giving a thought to thinking for herself.

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, swim

There is a tide in the affairs of men.

Prov. If you have a favorable opportunity to do something, do it, or you will lose your chance. (From Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar.) I think that this is the best possible time to start our own business. We shouldn't hesitate. There is a tide in the affairs of men.

See also: affair, men

tide someone over (until something)

to supply someone until a certain time or until something happens. Will this amount tide us over until next week? There is enough food here to tide over the entire camp until next month. Yes, this will tide us over.

tide turned 

1. Lit. the tide changed from high tide to low tide or vice versa. The tide turned before the ship had sailed out of the harbor.

2. Fig. the trend changed from one thing to another. We planned our investments to take advantage of the growth of the stock market. Then the tide turned and we lost buckets of money.

See also: turn

Time and tide wait for no man.

Prov. Things will not wait for you when you are late. Hurry up or we'll miss the bus! Time and tide wait for no man. Ellen: It's time to leave. Aren't you finished dressing yet? Fred: I can't decide which necktie looks best with this shirt. Ellen: Time and tide wait for no man, dear.

See also: and, man, time, wait

turn the tide

Fig. to cause a reversal in the direction of events; to cause a reversal in public opinion. It looked as if the team were going to lose, but near the end of the game, our star player turned the tide. At first, people were opposed to our plan. After a lot of discussion, we were able to turn the tide.

See also: turn

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drift with the tide

to agree with other people without thinking about things for yourself and making your own decisions We are looking for someone with the ability to lead rather than just drift with the tide.

See also: drift

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

stem the tide

to stop something bad which is happening a lot (often + of ) We have to stem the tide of emigration if our economy is to recover. Ohio State were losing 24-48 when Jackson stepped in to stem the tide.

See also: stem

turn the tide

to change a situation or people's opinions to the opposite of what they were before The government had planned cuts in the armed forces, but when war broke out, the military saw a chance to turn the tide.

See also: turn

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stem the tide

to stop something from increasing This law may stem the tide of pollution of our beautiful river from the factories built along its banks.

See also: stem

tide somebody over also tide over somebody

to supply someone with something they need for a short period We were lucky and got a small loan to tide us over until our customers began to pay us. They're seeking food aid to tide over the starving population until the next harvest.

turn the tide

to completely change the direction of something The new medicine turned the tide for my father, and he was out of the hospital in a few days. Better rifles for the army helped turn the tide of the war.

Usage notes: usually said about a condition, opinion, or process

See also: turn