tide (redirected from tides)

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. He always seemed to be swimming against the tide of public opinion. (sometimes + of)

See also: against, swim

go/swim with the tide

go/swim against the tide - to do the opposite of what most other people are doing. If you don't feel strongly about an issue, you may as well just swim with the tide.

See also: swim

stem the tide

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

See also: stem

the tide turns

turn the tide - to change a situation or people's opinions to the opposite of what they were before. The tide has turned and the cinema is becoming popular again.

See also: turn

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 someone over

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.

See also: over

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