PhrasesHub

Tide over

    Definitions

      • help someone get through a difficult period
        To provide assistance or support to help someone cope with a difficult situation or period of hardship

      • bridge a gap
        To temporarily manage or survive a difficult situation until more permanent or sustainable solutions can be found

    Examples of Tide over

    • She's trying to tide over her financial difficulties by finding a part-time job.

      When someone is "tiding over" a difficult financial situation, they are finding ways to cope with it until it improves. In this case, the woman is looking for part-time work as a way to manage her current financial difficulties.

    • The town was struggling to tide over the aftermath of the hurricane that had hit the region.

      Here, the town is dealing with the effects of a hurricane that has caused damage and disruption to the community. By "tiding over" the aftermath, the community is working to recover and rebuild in the face of this adversity.

    • The basketball team was able to tide over the loss of their star player by relying on the strength of their bench.

      In this context, "tiding over" refers to finding a way to cope with a significant loss or setback. In this example, the basketball team's star player has been injured, leaving the team without one of its key players. By "tiding over" this loss, the team is working to overcome the challenge and continue playing well without their star player.

    • The hospital was struggling to tide over the surge in patients during the flu season.

      In this case, the hospital is dealing with a high number of patients due to the flu season. By "tiding over" this surge, the hospital is working to manage the increased demand for its services and provide the best possible care to all of its patients.

    • The struggling company was able to tide over the financial crisis by cutting down on non-essential expenses and refinancing their loans.

      "Tide over" is a phrasal verb in this example, meaning to provide temporary financial support to help someone get through a difficult period. In this case, the company was facing a financial crisis, but was able to get through it temporarily by making some financial adjustments and securing better loan terms.

    • The team's star player was injured and they were struggling to win games, but the backup players were able to tide them over until the injured player could return.

      This example shows how "tide over" can be used in the context of a sports team. When the star player is injured, the backup players have to take on more responsibility and help the team win games until the injured player can return. "Tide over" here means to help the team maintain their performance level until the star player is back in action.

    • Erin's grandfather had just passed away, and she was finding it difficult to cope with the grief. Her friends and family were able to tide her over during this difficult time, providing emotional support and helping her get through the initial stages of mourning.

      In this example, "tide over" is used in a broader sense, to help someone get through a difficult emotional period. When a loved one passes away, the grieving process can be incredibly challenging, and having supportive friends and family members can make a huge difference in helping someone get through it. "Tide over" here means to provide emotional support and help someone cope with their grief.

    • The community was hit by a natural disaster, leaving many families homeless and in need of immediate assistance. The local authorities were able to tide the affected families over by providing them with temporary accommodation and essential supplies until they were able to rebuild their homes.

      "Tide over" in this context means to provide the immediate assistance required during a crisis. When a natural disaster strikes, many families can be left homeless and in need of essential supplies. In this case, the local authorities were able to provide these families with temporary accommodation and supplies until they were able to get back on their feet.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "tide over" is used to describe providing help or support to someone to get through a tough time. It can also refer to bridging a gap or managing a difficult situation until a more permanent solution is found.

    Origin of "Tide over"

    The origin of the phrase "tide over" can be traced back to the idea of the tide carrying someone over a rough patch of water. In the literal sense, the phrase refers to being carried over a body of water by the tide. In the figurative sense, it came to mean providing support or assistance to help someone through a difficult time. The phrase has been used in English language since the 17th century, and it continues to be commonly used in modern English.

    An example of the idiom's usage can be found in a sentence like, "We'll give you a loan to tide you over until you find a new job." This shows how the phrase is used to provide temporary support until a more permanent solution can be found.