Sink or Swim – Meaning, Origin & Usage

The phrase ;sink or swim’ is an idiomatic expression that conveys the imagery of being ‘thrown in the deep end’ where you have only two options. You either sink, or you swim.

In this article, we will teach you what the phrase means, and the story of how the phrase originated. Then, we’ll go into how and when to use the phrase before providing you with some alternative phrases that you could use in it’s place if you wish.

And without further ado, let’s get straight down to it.

What is the meaning of the phrase ‘sink or swim’?

The idiomatic phrase ‘sink or swim’ is a metaphor for a situation where someone or something either survives and thrives or fails miserably. This is because, in the literal sense, if you find yourself in deep water, if you cannot swim (or float), then you are sure to sink and therefore drown.

Thus, the phrase depicts an all or nothing situation in which everything either goes ‘swimmingly’ (excuse the pun!) or alternatively falls apart or goes up in smoke.

What is the origin of the phrase ‘sink or swim’?

There remains much debate on the precise origin of the phrase. It is believed that the original phrase was ‘float or sink’, which can be dated back to the 14th century, when the phrase ‘flete or sinke’ was printed in old English in the work ‘The Compleynte until Pite’ by Geoffrey Chaucer published circa 1368. 

There has been some speculation that the phrase is derived from the time when the people of Scotland, UK had belief in witchcraft, and would put suspected witches through a kind of test in which they would be tied up and thrown in a river or loch It was thought that if the suspected witch sank (and possibly drowned), then that meant that the woman was not a witch because she was accepted by the pure water. In contrast, if the suspected witch floated, then this meant that she was indeed a witch, and would be punished according to the rules of the time period, which was between 1563 and 1727, when witches were executed. They were  usually strangled before they were burned at the stake.

The phrase gradually gravitated from ‘sink or float’ to ‘sink or swim’, and came to be used metaphorically to describe situations which require great effort from someone if things are to go as intended.

How and when you can use the phrase ‘sink or swim’?

The phrase ‘sink or swim’ can be used in both personal and professional contexts in both conversation and correspondence, in either formal or informal circumstances.

The phrase ‘sink or swim’ is something of a cliche, or in other words, an overused phrase. Overused phrases are best avoided, because even though they can encapsulate a situation very well, they are often deemed to demonstrate a lack of original thinking.

You can use the phrase ‘sink or swim’ to describe a situation that either has passed or will come to pass. The phrase can indicate a situation where some has to overcome certain odds in order to survive and/or thrive in difficult circumstances. It can also be used to refer to a situation where someone has to either put in a great deal of effort, or risk failing miserably.

What are some other ways of saying ‘sink or swim’?

Here follows several examples of phrases that you can use in place of the phrase ‘sink or swim’:

• Survive and thrive or fail miserably
• Hit the ground running
• Ride or die
• Do your best or die trying
• Put the effort in or you’re out on your ear
• Win it or lose it
• It’s all for the taking, don’t mess this up
• You have to try hard or you will fail

Final word

So, to sum up, the phrase ‘sink or swim’ is an idiomatic one, which can be used literally or figuratively and metaphorically. The phrase can be used to refer to any situation where someone or something either survives and thrives or fails miserably.

The phrase is thought to have originated in the United Kingdom many centuries ago back when people who were suspected of witchcraft were thrown into a deep lake for the water to deicide if the person was a witch or not. If they sank they were not a witch, and if they floated they were deemed to be a witch and would have been executed. 

The phrase can be used in both personal and professional contexts in both conversation and correspondence, in either formal or informal circumstances. There are several other phrases that you can use in its place if you prefer, as discussed earlier.