swim with sharks

idiom

Meaning

To operate among dangerous people.

Examples

SIMPLE

You have to be careful when you swim with sharks.

CONTEXTUAL

If you want to succeed in this cutthroat industry, you must learn how to swim with sharks without losing your integrity.

COMPLEX

Entering the world of high-stakes corporate litigation requires a certain ruthlessness, for one is essentially choosing to swim with sharks on a daily basis.

Anchors to

shark's
swim

Related idioms1entry

01
swim upstream
To opt for a difficult course of action when a simpler or safer alternative is available; to make an unwise decision against sound advice.