above water

IPA/əbˌʌv wˈɔːtə/
IPA/əbˌʌv wˈɔːɾɚ/

above water — idiom

1. no longer close to failing or being ruined, especially after getting money or pr

1.慣用語B2
釋義

no longer close to failing or being ruined, especially after getting money or practical help

例句

After the loan came through, Yuna's cafe was finally above water again.

be above water again after financial help

Two big orders kept Joao's small workshop above water through the winter.

keep something above water during a hard period

同義詞
  • afloat

    very close in meaning and especially common for businesses or finances that are still surviving

  • solvent

    more formal and specifically about having enough money to pay debts

  • out of the woods

    broader and often used for danger, illness, or crises, not only money problems

反義詞
  • in debt

    specifically about owing more money than you can comfortably manage

  • in trouble

    broader opposite that does not always suggest recovery is near

文法句型

be above water

stay above water

keep somebody/something above water

用法筆記

Most often used when a person, family, or business is barely managing during financial pressure. It can also be used more generally for getting through a difficult period without collapsing.

常見錯誤

The lifeguard kept me above water.
The lifeguard kept me afloat.
💡in a literal swimming situation, English usually uses a verb like 'keep afloat'; this idiom usually means escaping serious trouble, especially money trouble.