单词 | swim or drown |
释义 | > as lemmasswim or drown d. Phrases in which swim is opposed to sink; esp. sink or swim (occasionally swim or drown), used spec. in reference to the ordeal of suspected witches (cf. 14b), hence figurative = ‘whatever may happen’. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > future events > [phrase] > whatever may happen sink or swimc1410 vail that vail mightc1475 the mind > will > decision > resolution or determination > [phrase] > determination regardless of consequences at all perilsc1300 sinka1393 sink or swimc1410 neck or nothing1673 coûte que coûte1715 at all costs1810 Sydney or the bush1924 the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > there is much success [phrase] > succeed or fail sink or swima1538 a man or a mouse1541 c1410 Lanterne of Liȝt 106 Þei charge not wheþir þei [sc. souls] synk or swyme, so þei moun regne as lordis. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 58 For the rest they care not as hyt ys commynly sayd whether they synke or swyme. a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iii. sig. B.iijv I care not to let all alone, choose it swimme or sinke. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Nager A fauourite of the time, or of authoritie, may boldly swimme where another would sinke. 1786 R. Burns Poems 31 Let posts an' pensions sink or swoom. 1825 Ann. Reg., Chron. (1826) 98/2 Dubbed a wizard.., Stebbings..proposed at length, of himself, the old-fashioned ordeal of ‘sink or swim’. 1860 G. J. Whyte-Melville Holmby House I. xviii. 274 Well, it's ‘over shoes over boots now’, and sink or swim, I won't give in for the fear of a ducking! 1887 R. L. Stevenson Thrawn Janet in Merry Men 141 The guidwives..pu'd her doun the clachan to the water o' Dule, to see if she were a witch or no, soum or drown. < as lemmas |
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