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Words and Their StoriesLearning Expressions with VOA
Processed with VS1Use water-based expressions to describe challenges, choices, and popular opinions.
VOA source audio
Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptThe episode uses the direction of water to describe how people handle difficulty and social expectations. Going with a current can suggest an easier route or agreement with others; moving against it can suggest resistance or an unconventional choice.
Cultural note: These are metaphors, not judgments: following the majority is not always wise, and choosing a harder path is not automatically better. “Swim against the tide” can sound dramatic, so use it when the resistance or opposition is meaningful.
Keep exploringImagine the current as pressure from circumstances or other people. Which expressions describe adapting—and which describe choosing a harder direction?
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Describe adapting to a situation or moving with a prevailing direction.
Meaning
Take a route that is relatively easy because it follows the direction of events or circumstances.
Tone & use
Figurative and less common than “go with the flow.” It can describe convenience, but may also suggest simply following what is already happening.
Example
“Rather than replace the whole system, the small team swam downstream and improved the tool people already used.”
Meaning
Go along with a strong trend, opinion, or set of circumstances.
Tone & use
Figurative. It can be neutral or mildly critical if it implies that someone is following the crowd without much thought.
Example
“The committee swam with the tide and chose the popular proposal, even though a few members had reservations.”
Meaning
Adapt to events or accept what other people are doing without resisting.
Tone & use
Informal and often positive for someone relaxed and flexible. It can sound passive if the situation calls for a firm decision.
Example
“We had no fixed plan for Saturday, so we went with the flow and followed our friends to the street festival.”
Talk about choosing a difficult route or opposing a popular view.
Meaning
Choose a difficult route or work against the usual direction of events.
Tone & use
Figurative; often describes doing something that requires extra effort. It can refer to a personal choice or an unpopular position.
Example
“Starting a neighborhood repair café was swimming upstream at first, but residents gradually joined in.”
Meaning
Act against a powerful trend, opinion, or expectation.
Tone & use
More emphatic than “swim upstream.” Use it when the opposition feels strong; it may sound dramatic for a small disagreement.
Example
“At a time when every company was rushing to expand, the owner swam against the tide and focused on serving existing customers well.”
Knowledge check
Choose the expression that best fits each situation.
Try it · Choose the best expression
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