swim against the stream

swim against the stream

To go against or disagree with a prevailing or popularly held opinion or perspective; to act or behave contrary to the majority of others. I really swam against the stream when I was in college with some radical opinions, but as I've grown older I have found myself falling more in line with other people's way of thinking. I don't understand why you always have to swim against the stream instead of making things a little easier on yourself!

See also: stream, swim

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

swim against the stream

or

go against the stream

If you swim against the stream or go against the stream, you do or say the opposite of what most other people are doing or saying. He was brave enough to be different and swim against the stream. If you live in a different culture, you can feel as if you are going against the stream.

See also: stream, swim

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

go, swim, etc. with/against the ˈstream/ˈtide

behave/not behave in the same way as most other people: He’s a fashion designer who’s always swum against the stream; his work is very original. ♢ Why do you always have to go against the tide?

See also: stream, tide

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

swim against the stream

To move counter to a prevailing trend.

See also: stream, swim

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.