keep your head above water
US /kiːp jʊər hɛd əˈbʌv ˈwɔtər/
UK /kiːp jʊər hɛd əˈbʌv ˈwɔtər/
1.
to manage to survive, especially financially, in difficult circumstances
:
•
After losing his job, he struggled to keep his head above water.
•
With rising costs, many small businesses are finding it hard to keep their heads above water.