Life is full of tough moments. Sometimes, we have to keep going even when things feel hard. People have found special ways to talk about these moments using idioms. Idioms are phrases that mean something different from what the words actually say. They help us describe how we stay strong, even when life gets rough.
Idioms about survival teach us how people handle problems. These phrases can come from nature, war, or everyday life. They show how people face challenges with courage. In this article, you’ll learn idioms that explain what it’s like to survive tough times. They can help you understand how others feel—and maybe even how you feel too.
Idioms About Survival
1. Weather the storm
Meaning: To survive a difficult situation.
Example Sentence:
• We had to weather the storm when Dad lost his job.
• The team weathered the storm during the tough season.
Other ways to say: Get through it, tough it out
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sailing—when ships stayed strong during heavy storms.
Usage: Used when talking about making it through hard times.
2. Sink or swim
Meaning: To succeed or fail without help.
Example Sentence:
• It was sink or swim when I started middle school.
• He had to sink or swim on his first day of work.
Other ways to say: Do or die, make it or break it
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from learning to swim by jumping into water.
Usage: Used when someone must try their best alone.
3. Hang by a thread
Meaning: To be in danger or close to failure.
Example Sentence:
• Their hopes were hanging by a thread.
• The old swing set was hanging by a thread.
Other ways to say: On the edge, almost gone
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from Greek myths where fate was shown by threads.
Usage: Used when something is very close to ending.
4. Keep your head above water
Meaning: To manage to survive, especially with problems.
Example Sentence:
• We’re just keeping our heads above water with all these bills.
• He kept his head above water during finals week.
Other ways to say: Stay afloat, barely managing
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from swimming—keeping your head up means you won’t drown.
Usage: Used when someone is barely getting by.
5. Go the distance
Meaning: To finish something hard no matter what.
Example Sentence:
• She went the distance to finish her science project.
• The runner went the distance and won the race.
Other ways to say: Stick with it, follow through
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports like boxing or racing.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t give up.
6. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To do something hard or painful with courage.
Example Sentence:
• He bit the bullet and got his tooth pulled.
• I had to bite the bullet and apologize.
Other ways to say: Face it, tough it out
Fun Fact/Origin: Soldiers used to bite bullets during surgery without painkillers.
Usage: Used when someone faces something unpleasant bravely.
7. Ride it out
Meaning: To wait through a difficult time without giving up.
Example Sentence:
• We had to ride out the power outage.
• The family rode out the storm in their basement.
Other ways to say: Wait it out, tough it out
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sailing through a storm instead of running from it.
Usage: Used when someone waits through trouble until it passes.
8. Out of the woods
Meaning: Past the worst part of a problem.
Example Sentence:
• She’s still sick, but she’s out of the woods.
• We’re not out of the woods yet with this math test.
Other ways to say: Getting better, almost safe
Fun Fact/Origin: Being lost in the woods was dangerous, so getting out meant safety.
Usage: Used when things start to improve.
9. Put up a fight
Meaning: To try hard even in a losing situation.
Example Sentence:
• The dog put up a fight at the vet’s office.
• They put up a fight during the final game.
Other ways to say: Try hard, don’t give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from boxing and wrestling.
Usage: Used when someone refuses to quit.
10. Back against the wall
Meaning: To be in a tough spot with no easy way out.
Example Sentence:
• With his back against the wall, he found a new plan.
• Our team had its back against the wall after losing three games.
Other ways to say: In trouble, cornered
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from a fight where you can’t retreat.
Usage: Used when someone must act or lose.
11. Stand your ground
Meaning: To not back down during trouble.
Example Sentence:
• She stood her ground during the argument.
• He stood his ground even when others disagreed.
Other ways to say: Hold firm, don’t give in
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from battlefields where retreat wasn’t an option.
Usage: Used when someone refuses to back off.
12. Come out swinging
Meaning: To begin something with strength or energy.
Example Sentence:
• The team came out swinging after losing last time.
• She came out swinging in the debate.
Other ways to say: Start strong, fight back
Fun Fact/Origin: From boxing—means to fight back from the start.
Usage: Used when someone starts boldly.
13. Face the music
Meaning: To accept punishment or the truth.
Example Sentence:
• He had to face the music after breaking the vase.
• She finally faced the music about her poor grades.
Other ways to say: Take the blame, own up
Fun Fact/Origin: May come from actors facing the orchestra pit during shows.
Usage: Used when someone accepts what’s coming.
14. Live to fight another day
Meaning: To survive and be ready to try again.
Example Sentence:
• We lost, but we’ll live to fight another day.
• He saved his energy to live to fight another day.
Other ways to say: Try again later, stay safe
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from war—avoiding a fight now means you can try again.
Usage: Used when someone chooses safety to try again.
15. Fall through the cracks
Meaning: To be missed or forgotten during chaos.
Example Sentence:
• Some kids fall through the cracks in big schools.
• My homework fell through the cracks during the move.
Other ways to say: Get lost, be overlooked
Fun Fact/Origin: Like small things falling through a grate.
Usage: Used when someone or something is not noticed.
16. Roll with the punches
Meaning: To adapt and stay strong during hard times.
Example Sentence:
• She rolled with the punches during the school year.
• He learned to roll with the punches after moving.
Other ways to say: Go with the flow, adjust
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from boxing—rolling lessens the blow.
Usage: Used when someone stays calm and adapts.
17. Cling to hope
Meaning: To hold on to the belief that things will get better.
Example Sentence:
• They clung to hope during the rescue mission.
• We clung to hope that Grandpa would be okay.
Other ways to say: Hope for the best, stay positive
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of holding tightly to something.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t give up hope.
18. On your last legs
Meaning: About to break down, give up, or stop.
Example Sentence:
• The old bike was on its last legs.
• I was on my last legs after the hike.
Other ways to say: Worn out, barely working
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from animals or machines near the end of their use.
Usage: Used when someone or something is nearly finished.
19. Keep going
Meaning: To continue even when it’s hard.
Example Sentence:
• She kept going even after falling in the race.
• We kept going through the rough patch.
Other ways to say: Don’t stop, push on
Fun Fact/Origin: A simple phrase that shows strength.
Usage: Used to show someone who doesn’t quit.
20. Hold on for dear life
Meaning: To try very hard to stay safe or not fall.
Example Sentence:
• He held on for dear life on the rollercoaster.
• We held on for dear life during the storm.
Other ways to say: Hang tight, hold steady
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in scary or extreme moments.
Usage: Used when someone is trying hard to stay safe.
21. Skating on thin ice
Meaning: Taking a big risk or close to danger.
Example Sentence:
• He’s skating on thin ice by lying again.
• You’re skating on thin ice with that attitude.
Other ways to say: Taking chances, pushing limits
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from ice skating where thin ice can break.
Usage: Used when someone is close to trouble.
22. Pull through
Meaning: To recover from something bad.
Example Sentence:
• She pulled through after the surgery.
• We pulled through the hard times.
Other ways to say: Get better, survive
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used with illness or big problems.
Usage: Used when someone gets better after struggle.
23. Tough as nails
Meaning: Very strong and not easy to break.
Example Sentence:
• My grandma is tough as nails.
• That football player is tough as nails.
Other ways to say: Super strong, very brave
Fun Fact/Origin: Nails are hard to bend—like strong people.
Usage: Used when someone is very tough.
24. Grin and bear it
Meaning: To smile and stay strong through pain.
Example Sentence:
• He had to grin and bear it during the long wait.
• She grinned and bore it through the boring speech.
Other ways to say: Deal with it, accept it
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bear” means to carry or handle something.
Usage: Used when someone stays quiet and deals with pain.
25. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble.
Example Sentence:
• I’m in hot water for missing practice.
• He got in hot water after breaking the window.
Other ways to say: In trouble, in a mess
Fun Fact/Origin: Hot water is uncomfortable—like being in trouble.
Usage: Used when someone is facing trouble.
26. Go down swinging
Meaning: To try your best until the very end.
Example Sentence:
• The team went down swinging in the last inning.
• He went down swinging during the spelling bee.
Other ways to say: Try till the end, never give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from baseball and boxing.
Usage: Used when someone fights to the end.
27. Drag your feet
Meaning: To move slowly because you don’t want to do something.
Example Sentence:
• He dragged his feet doing homework.
• I dragged my feet going to the dentist.
Other ways to say: Stall, delay
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of slow walking.
Usage: Used when someone delays doing something.
28. Hit rock bottom
Meaning: To reach the worst point.
Example Sentence:
• After losing his job, he hit rock bottom.
• She hit rock bottom before asking for help.
Other ways to say: At the lowest point, in a bad place
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to mining—once you hit rock, there’s no further down.
Usage: Used when someone has reached the lowest point and may need to start over.
Quiz: Idioms About Survival
Instructions: Choose the correct meaning for each idiom. Only one answer is correct.
Question Key
1. What does “weather the storm” mean?
A) To go outside during bad weather
B) To get through a hard time
C) To stop talking in a storm
2. What does “sink or swim” mean?
A) You either play a water game
B) You must succeed or fail without help
C) You wear a life vest
3. If someone says you’re “hanging by a thread,” what does that mean?
A) You’re sewing something
B) You’re holding on to a string
C) You’re close to failure or danger
4. What does “bite the bullet” mean?
A) Eat something cold
B) Face something hard with courage
C) Chew gum quickly
5. What does it mean to “stand your ground”?
A) Sit down and rest
B) Keep fighting or not give up
C) Walk away from trouble
6. If someone tells you to “roll with the punches,” what should you do?
A) Fight back with fists
B) Keep going even if things are tough
C) Avoid exercise
7. What does it mean when you are “on your last legs”?
A) You just ran a race
B) You feel full of energy
C) You are very tired or nearly finished
8. What does “hold on for dear life” mean?
A) Hug someone
B) Hang on very tightly
C) Go for a walk
9. If someone is “in hot water,” what does that mean?
A) They are taking a bath
B) They are in trouble
C) They are drinking tea
10. What does it mean to “hit rock bottom”?
A) You are standing on a rock
B) You reached your lowest point
C) You are climbing a mountain
Answer Key
- B) To get through a hard time
- B) You must succeed or fail without help
- C) You’re close to failure or danger
- B) Face something hard with courage
- B) Keep fighting or not give up
- B) Keep going even if things are tough
- C) You are very tired or nearly finished
- B) Hang on very tightly
- B) They are in trouble
- B) You reached your lowest point
Wrapping Up
Idioms about survival help us talk about hard times in a simple way. They show how people stay strong, even when life is tough. You can use these idioms to understand feelings or to support others. Learning these phrases helps make talking about hard times easier and clearer. Keep listening for them in books, movies, or even in real life.
