muddles through
Gets by messily
To muddle through is to manage a situation despite confusion, lack of preparation, or inadequate resources.
The phrase suggests getting by without elegance or mastery—stumbling toward an acceptable outcome rather than executing a plan: We didn't know what we were doing, but we muddled through.
It carries a note of self-deprecating modesty, often British in flavor.
- copeHandle difficulties adequately
- fumbleHandle with clumsy fingers
- manageDirect or handle successfully
- make it workSucceed despite obstacles
- improvisePerform without preparation
scrape by · keep afloat · make do · get by · persevere · hold it together · survive · jury-rig · limp · winging it · coping · wing it · adapt · troubleshoot · botch · hand-to-mouth · resourceful · pragmatic