above-water
above-water — 慣用語
1. to manage to continue living or working through a difficult period, especially o
勉強維持
比喻勉強應付財務困難
to manage to continue living or working through a difficult period, especially one caused by not having enough money
Even with two part-time jobs, Xiu barely kept her head above water after the rent increase.
即使打了兩份工，Xiu 在房租調漲後還是只能勉強維持生計。
barely keep + possessive + head above water — emphasizes difficulty
The small independent bookstore managed to keep its head above water by selling coffee and hosting author events.
那間小型獨立書店靠著賣咖啡和舉辦作者活動，勉強維持了下來。
manage to keep + possessive + head above water — successful coping strategy
During the recession, many local families could only just keep their heads above water from month to month.
經濟不景氣時，許多當地家庭只能每個月勉強度日。
After the factory closed, the town's small shops struggled to keep their heads above water.
工廠關閉後，鎮上的小商店都努力讓自己撐下去。
A lot of restaurants are finding it harder to keep their heads above water as ingredient prices keep rising.
隨著食材成本持續上漲，許多餐廳發現越來越難維持經營。
- cope
more general; does not carry the specific financial-struggle metaphor
- get by
similar meaning but less dramatic; can be used in non-financial contexts
- stay afloat
the closest synonym; also uses a water metaphor and can apply to businesses or people
- survive
broader and stronger; implies a real threat of failure
文法句型
keep + possessive + head + above water
用法筆記
The possessive determiner must match the subject (my, your, his, her, its, our, their). Frequently used with 'barely', 'just', or 'only just' to emphasise the difficulty. The plural form uses 'heads' but the idiom stays in singular 'water'.
常見錯誤
above-water — 片語
1. in a situation where you are no longer in financial difficulty or behind with pa
脫離困境
不再處於財務困難的狀態
in a situation where you are no longer in financial difficulty or behind with payments
Once the car loan was paid off, the family was finally above water again.
車貸還清後，這家人總算脫離了財務困境。
be above water — state of having overcome difficulty
A part-time freelance job helped Hugo stay above water while he finished his nursing degree.
一份兼職的自由工作幫助 Hugo 在完成護理學位期間維持收支平衡。
stay above water — maintaining a safe position
The charity concert raised enough money to put the community sports centre back above water.
慈善演唱會籌到了足夠的錢，讓社區運動中心得以恢復營運。
With careful budgeting and a smaller apartment, Nila managed to get above water within a year.
靠著仔細規劃預算和搬到較小的公寓，Nila 在一年內就擺脫了財務困境。
Small farmers struggle to stay above water when the cost of seeds and fertiliser keeps climbing.
當種子和肥料價格持續上漲時，小農戶很難維持生計。
- out of debt
more specific — refers only to debt, not general difficulty
- in the black
specifically about a bank account or business; more formal
- solvent
formal term for being able to pay debts
- in trouble
general opposite; vague but commonly understood
- in the red
opposite of 'in the black'; bank account or business losing money
- underwater
common in finance for debts exceeding assets
文法句型
be above water
get above water
stay above water
用法筆記
This shorter phrase is less common than the full idiom 'keep one's head above water'. It almost always follows a small set of verbs: 'be', 'get', 'stay', or 'put [someone/something] back'. Subject is typically a person, family, or small organisation.