in at the deep end
Trial by fire
To be thrown or jump in at the deep end is to begin something difficult without preparation or gradual introduction—like being tossed into the deep end of a swimming pool rather than wading in from the shallow side.
My first day they put me in at the deep end, handling customer complaints alone.
The phrase often implies sink-or-swim circumstances where you must learn quickly or fail.
- take the bull by the hornsConfront a difficulty directly
- crash courseBrief, concentrated instruction
- thrown to the wolvesAbandoned to hostile forces
- plungeSudden steep descent
- sink or swimSucceed alone or fail
no safety net · sink · sink like a stone · submerge · swim · baptism by fire · trial by fire · treading water · flounder · hands-on experience · immerse · initiation · trial and error · tough love · introduction · uphill battle · overwhelmed · struggle
in at the deep endbaby steps
Cautious incremental progress
softly softly · step by step · with training wheels · hand-holding · slow and steady
in at the deep endapprenticed
Bound for training
mentored · primed · warmed up · battle-ready
in at the deep endbaby steps
Cautious incremental progress
step by step · hand-holding · spoon-fed · on-the-job training · inch by inch
deep, deeply, deepen, deepens, deepened, deepening, deeper, deepest, ending