Example: We moeten het hoofd boven water houden tijdens moeilijke tijden.
Definition
"Het hoofd boven water houden" means to manage to survive or cope with difficult situations, especially financially or emotionally, without failing or giving up. It implies maintaining stability and control despite challenges or hardships.
The phrase "het hoofd boven water houden" literally translates from Dutch as 'to keep the head above water.' It originates from the image of a person struggling to stay afloat in water, symbolizing the effort to avoid being overwhelmed by problems. Did you know this expression vividly captures the struggle to maintain composure and stability during tough times?
Learn to use this expression actively
"Het hoofd boven water houden" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C1) - set 1", containing 100 commonly used expressions.
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to stay afloat