| 单词 | sink or swim |
| 释义 | > as lemmasto sink or swim a. In various expressions contrasted with swim (formerly also †flete (fleet v.1 1a)), to denote failure or adversity as opposed to success, prosperity, etc. Now esp. in to sink or swim: to fail or succeed entirely by one's own efforts (typically used to indicate the arrival of a personal turning point). ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > resolution or determination > [phrase] > determination regardless of consequences at all perilsc1300 sinka1393 sink or swimc1410 neck or nothing1673 coûte que coûte1715 at all costs1810 Sydney or the bush1924 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. l. 1628 (MED) Betre is to flete than to sincke. ?a1425 (a1415) Lanterne of Liȝt (Harl.) (1917) 106 (MED) Hiȝe prelatis..charge not wheþir þei synk or swyme. a1450 (c1370) G. Chaucer Complaint unto Pity (Tanner) (1871) l. 110 Ye rekke not whethyr I flete or sinke. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 58 They care not as hyt ys commynly sayd whether they synke or swyme. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Nager A fauourite..of authoritie, may boldly swimme where another would sinke. 1637 G. Gillespie Dispute against Eng.-Popish Ceremonies Epist. sig. A2v If the Court swimme, he cares not though the Church sinke. a1660 in J. T. Gilbert Contemp. Hist. Ireland (1880) II. 193 The foresaide Conaght armie..must now shincke or swime. 1832 J. Clare Let. Jan. (1985) 563 All I wanted was to use my own means to sink or swim as good luck or bad luck might hereafter alow me. 1986 C. Lassalle Breaking Rules 90 She would have to cope on her own: to launch herself on the party and..sink or swim. sink or swim b. sink or swim: ‘whatever happens’; used adverbially to express determination to do something regardless of the consequences. ΚΠ 1668 R. Steele Husbandmans Calling iii. 29 I will be just and honest, sink or swim. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian i, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 20 Sink or swim, I am determined to gang to Lunnon. 2011 T. McDonald Daydreams of Country Boy vii. 203 Linda started to say something but changed her mind. Connie was ready with questions, sink or swim. sink or swim d. Phrases in which swim is opposed to sink; esp. sink or swim (occasionally swim or drown), used spec. in reference to the ordeal of suspected witches (cf. 14b), hence figurative = ‘whatever may happen’. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > future events > [phrase] > whatever may happen sink or swimc1410 vail that vail mightc1475 the mind > will > decision > resolution or determination > [phrase] > determination regardless of consequences at all perilsc1300 sinka1393 sink or swimc1410 neck or nothing1673 coûte que coûte1715 at all costs1810 Sydney or the bush1924 the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > there is much success [phrase] > succeed or fail sink or swima1538 a man or a mouse1541 c1410 Lanterne of Liȝt 106 Þei charge not wheþir þei [sc. souls] synk or swyme, so þei moun regne as lordis. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 58 For the rest they care not as hyt ys commynly sayd whether they synke or swyme. a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iii. sig. B.iijv I care not to let all alone, choose it swimme or sinke. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Nager A fauourite of the time, or of authoritie, may boldly swimme where another would sinke. 1786 R. Burns Poems 31 Let posts an' pensions sink or swoom. 1825 Ann. Reg., Chron. (1826) 98/2 Dubbed a wizard.., Stebbings..proposed at length, of himself, the old-fashioned ordeal of ‘sink or swim’. 1860 G. J. Whyte-Melville Holmby House I. xviii. 274 Well, it's ‘over shoes over boots now’, and sink or swim, I won't give in for the fear of a ducking! 1887 R. L. Stevenson Thrawn Janet in Merry Men 141 The guidwives..pu'd her doun the clachan to the water o' Dule, to see if she were a witch or no, soum or drown. < as lemmas |
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