Example: Il faut parfois nager à contre-courant pour réussir ses projets.
Definition
"Nager à contre-courant" means to swim against the current, which figuratively refers to acting or thinking in opposition to prevailing opinions, trends, or forces, often requiring extra effort and resilience to achieve success or stand out.
Translations
To swim against the current
Ir contra corriente
Tegen de stroom ingaan
Anar contra corrent
Gegen den Strom schwimmen
Etymology
The phrase "nager à contre-courant" literally translates from French as 'to swim against the current.' It combines 'nager' (to swim) and 'contre-courant' (against the current). This expression metaphorically captures the idea of resisting the flow or dominant direction, reflecting courage and determination. Did you know it evokes the image of a fish swimming upstream, symbolizing perseverance?
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"Nager à contre-courant" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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To swim against the current