How to Pronounce "have your head above water"
expression
HAV yur HED uh-BUV WAW-ter
hav yaw HED uh-BUV WAW-tuh
Definition
To just manage to survive, especially financially or in a difficult situation, without being overwhelmed.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈhæv/ /ˈjɔɹ/, /ˈjʊɹ/ /ˈhɛd/ /əˈbəv/ /ˈwɔtɝ
British English
hav/ /jˈɔː/ /hˈɛd/ /əbˈʌv/ /wˈɔːtɐ
Simplified Pronunciation
US
HAV yur HED uh-BUV WAW-ter
UK
hav yaw HED uh-BUV WAW-tuh
Listen in Context
It's hard to have your head above water when you lose your job.
We work overtime just to have our head above water every month.
After paying all my bills, I barely have my head above water.
Right now, we're just trying to have our head above water until things get better.