Englishgo with the flow
Meaning: To take a relaxed attitude towards life.
Example: “Our plans changed hourly, so we learned to go with the flow.”
Origin: Frequently attributed to Marcus Aurelius, and the attribution is spurious. The Meditations do contain related ideas about accepting the course of nature rather than struggling against it, but not this phrase, which is twentieth-century American and rose sharply through the counterculture of the 1960s and 1970s. Two currents fed it. One is simply hydraulic and obvious: swimming with a current costs nothing while swimming against it exhausts you, and the water arrives at the same place regardless. The other is the popularized Taoism of the period, particularly the Tao Te Ching's repeated use of water as the model of effective action — yielding, taking the shape of obstacles, and wearing down what resists it precisely by not opposing it directly.
More English idioms
- good grief! An expletive that means "This is ridiculous!" or "I've had enough!".
- grasp at straws To act in desperation with little hope of success.
- half-baked Poorly planned or thought out.
- handle someone with kid gloves To treat someone cautiously or gently because he or she is easily hurt or angered.
- hanky panky Sexual misconduct, mischief, or suspicious dealings.
- have the last laugh To outsmart or get revenge on someone who thinks he or she has been clever.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Peau de vache A mean, difficult, and unpleasant person — tough and unyielding like tanned hide.
- Eres un aguafiestas You're a killjoy — you pour cold water on everyone's fun the moment you arrive.
- ¡Qué cara más dura! You've got incredible nerve and cheek — the audacity is almost impressive.
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