head above water, keep one's
Stay out of trouble, especially financial difficulties; also, keep up with work or other demands. For example, With new bills coming in every day they're barely keeping their heads above water, or The work's piling up, but I manage to keep my head above water. This expression alludes to keeping oneself from drowning. [Early 1700s] Also see in deep.
Words nearby head above water, keep one's
he's,
he-huckleberry,
he-man,
he/she,
head,
head above water, keep one's,
head and shoulders above,
head arrangement,
head balance,
head cap,
head cold