swim upstream

verb

To opt for a difficult course of action when a simpler or safer alternative is available; to make an unwise decision against sound advice.

“I told my daughter to get her hair dyed at a salon, but she had to swim upstream and do it herself. Now it's a mess.”

Similar
do something the hard way
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Meanings

verbswim upstream (third-person singular simple present swims upstream, present participle swimming upstream, simple past swam upstream, past participle swum upstream)

present singular third person swims upstream · participle present swimming upstream · past swam upstream · participle past swum upstream

  1. idiomaticTo opt for a difficult course of action when a simpler or safer alternative is available; to make an unwise decision against sound advice.

    I told my daughter to get her hair dyed at a salon, but she had to swim upstream and do it herself. Now it's a mess.

    Synonyms: do something the hard way

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo opt for a difficult course of action when a simpler or safer alternative is available; to make an unwise decision against sound advice.

Similar
do something the hard way
Cite this entry
APA

swim upstream. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/swim%20upstream

MLA

“swim upstream.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/swim%20upstream. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “swim upstream,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/swim%20upstream.

Source: swim upstream on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.