Is swim against the tide formal or informal?

It is fairly formal and common in writing, speeches, and news articles.

Is it the same as go against the grain?

They are close, but go against the grain often means feeling uncomfortable with something, too.

Can I use it in IELTS Writing?

Yes. It works well when you want to show disagreement with the majority.

← Dictionary

swim-against-the-tide

/swɪm əˈɡenst ðə taɪd/

IELTSAcademic

idiom

to act in a way that goes against what most people think or do. It often suggests effort, courage, or stubbornness.

She likes to swim against the tide.
He swam against the tide of public opinion.
In that company, questioning rules was swimming against the tide.

Adinary Nuance

Swim against the tide is stronger and more vivid than simple words like "disagree" or "resist." It suggests you are pushing back against a powerful majority, not just having a different view. Writers choose it when they want a clear image of difficulty and independence.

In other languages

Vietnamese: đi ngược dòng
Spanish: ir contra la corriente
Chinese: 逆流而行
Japanese: 流れに逆らう
Korean: 흐름에 거스르다

Etymology

This idiom comes from the image of literally swimming against a strong current or tide. It became common in English to describe resisting popular opinion or social pressure.

Common phrases

swim against the tidego against the tideswim against public opinionswim against the current

Synonyms

buck the trend go against the grain resist

Frequently asked questions

Is swim against the tide formal or informal?: It is fairly formal and common in writing, speeches, and news articles.
Is it the same as go against the grain?: They are close, but go against the grain often means feeling uncomfortable with something, too.
Can I use it in IELTS Writing?: Yes. It works well when you want to show disagreement with the majority.