To barely manage to survive or cope with difficulties; to avoid complete failure or drowning in problems.
This metaphor draws from the literal act of swimming or treading water, where keeping one's head above the surface is essential for survival. The figurative use emerged in the 17th century, comparing financial or personal struggles to the physical challenge of staying afloat.
This phrase brilliantly captures the exhausting nature of barely surviving difficult circumstances - just as treading water requires constant effort with no forward progress, 'keeping your head above water' suggests ongoing struggle without improvement. The metaphor implies that any relaxation of effort could lead to 'drowning' in one's problems.
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