keep one’s head above water

勉强维持、避免陷入麻烦，勉强应付、惨淡经营；不负债；奄奄一息，勉强生存；艰难求存，挣扎求生，生活窘迫，勉强维持

keep your head above water，字面意思是“保持你的头在水面上”，这个习惯用语源自于游泳。游泳的人都知道，要把头放在水面上才不会呛水，这是一种很形象的表达方式。在水中遇到麻烦的时候，人们也是千方百计让头部露出水面。keep one’s head above water用来喻指人尽量摆脱一种困境、麻烦、债务，尤其是因欠债而造成的困境

与in deep water（陷入困境、处于水深火热之中）相对应

It became increasingly difficult to keep his head above water. 他越来越难以维持生计。

When I lose my job, I could no longer keep over heads above water.

当我失业的时候，那日子真是没发过啊。

That seaman was very poor, but he was keeping his head above water.

那个水手很穷，但却没有负债。

He’s been in deep water ever since he got fired from his job.

自从被解雇，他就陷入了困顿之中。

A man who loses his job tries to keep his head above water until he finds a new job.

一个失业的人在找到新工作之前要努力不欠债。

The business is in trouble, but we are just about keeping our heads above water.

公司遇到了一些问题，但我们还是得勉强应付下去。

We are so busy during the tourist season I can barely keep my head above water.

我在旅游旺季特别忙，都快忙不过来了。

Thanks to the ongoing energy and financial crisis in the UK, many British families are struggling and can barely keep their head above water.

当前英国的能源和金融危机导致很多英国家庭生活拮据，捉襟见肘。

It's quite challenging for a lot of businesses to keep their head above water amid fierce competition and severe labor shortages.

竞争激烈同时劳动力极度短缺使很多企业惨淡经营，难以为继。

He tried so hard to keep himself above water.

他设法使自己摆脱困境。

They are keeping their head above water after this accident.

在这次的事故之后，他们一直在努力避免陷入困境。

The cost of living is now so high that you need to earn a good income just to keep your head above water.

现在生活费用是如此之高，必须要有很好的收入才能维持生活。