sink or swim

US /sɪŋk ɔr swɪm/
UK /sɪŋk ɔr swɪm/
"sink or swim" picture
1.

o la va o la spacca, cavarsela da soli

to fail or succeed entirely by one's own efforts, without help from anyone else

:
When he started his own business, it was a case of sink or swim.
Quando ha avviato la sua attività, era una questione di o la va o la spacca.
The new employees were told they would have to sink or swim.
Ai nuovi dipendenti è stato detto che avrebbero dovuto cavarsela da soli.