muddled along
Got by awkwardly
To muddle along is to manage or make progress without a clear plan, getting by through improvisation rather than competence: We muddled along without proper training until someone finally wrote a manual.
The phrase suggests adequate but unglamorous survival—neither thriving nor failing, just continuing.
- frustratedAnnoyed by obstacles
- improvisingCreating spontaneously without plan
- winging itProceeding without preparation
- flying blindActing without guidance
- copingManaging under strain
playing it by ear · getting by · scraping by · just surviving · disorganized · making do · surviving · meandering · resigned · slogging · adapting · plodding · ambling · treading water · stumbling · managing · indifferent · going through the motions