Sink or swim
When someone says “sink or swim,” they are referring to a situation where a person must either succeed on their own efforts or fail without any outside help or support. It’s like being thrown into the deep end of a pool and having to either figure out how to swim to stay afloat (swim) or face the consequence of sinking (failing). This idiom is often used to describe a challenging or difficult situation where there is no middle ground or safety net; you either make it through by your own abilities (swim) or you don’t (sink). It implies a sense of self-reliance and the need to be resourceful in order to overcome obstacles.
For example, if a new employee is given a tough project with minimal guidance and support from their team, they are essentially left to sink or swim. They must either figure out how to succeed independently or risk failing due to lack of assistance.