释义 |
idiomtidestem the tide (of)(also stem the flow, swell etc (of))to stop a situation that is affecting the whole of an area, country etc, or something that is being done by a lot of people ◆ used especially in business and politics:The White House is very concerned at the flood of illegal immigrants and intends to stem the tide with tighter controls.The departure of Lorenzo should help stem the flow of criticism that has been directed at the airline ever since he took control.The government has introduced a number of job creation schemes in an effort to stem the rising tide of unemployment.swim/go against the tide(also row, stand etc against the tide)to have opinions or ideas on a particular subject that are the opposite of most people's at the time:He was a sensitive headmaster, who swam against the tide at a time when schools thought that employing a counsellor was a waste of money.Gap went against the tide by using quality suppliers who did not normally make children's clothing, to manufacture their new kids' line.opposite swim/drift/float with the tide: Andy was not the kind of man to swim with the tide just because it was convenient.NoteYou may hear people use 'tide' in other phrases related to this. For example, you can say that 'the tide is flowing sb's way' or 'the tide is running against sb'With the tide of scientific opinion running against them, Stone's theories are losing influence. People also talk about 'the tide of sth' in many different phrases:The factories are now empty, left behind by the tide of progress. the tide is turningchange/be different used in order to say that people's opinions are changing so that they no longer approve of someone or something:The local elections that year showed that the tide was turning towards the Socialists.Suddenly, after a century of realism, the tide is turning back towards the fantastical, towards magic.With the growth of environmental awareness, the tide has turned against big road-building projects.turn back the tideprevent to stop the change in people's opinions or behaviour, so that they are the same as they were before:Britain's doctors seem set to turn back the tide of support for cheap unbranded drugs - against the recommendation of a recent report.I do not think we can turn back the tide of secularization altogether in our society's attitude to dying. phrasetide[tided, tided, tiding] tide over tide sb over if you have enough money or food to tide you over, you have enough money to continue, or enough food so that you do not feel hungry: My Dad lent me some money to tide me over until I get paid. The guests were given coffee and cookies to tide them over until dinner.
See:- a rising tide lifts all boats
- be (as) happy as a clam (at high tide)
- drift with the tide
- go against the tide
- go with the flow
- go with the tide
- go, swim, etc. with/against the stream/tide
- happy as a clam (at high tide)
- happy as a clam at high tide
- happy as the day is long
- red tide
- rising tide, a
- stem the tide
- stem the tide, to
- swim against the current
- swim against the tide
- swim with the tide
- swim with the tide, to
- the tide turns
- There is a tide in the affairs of men
- tide (one) over
- tide over
- tide turned
- time and tide tarry for no man
- Time and tide wait for no man
- time and tide wait for no one
- turn of the tide
- turn the tide
- turning of the tide
|