stem the tide
Halt the flow
To stem the tide is to slow, stop, or reverse an advancing force or trend.
The image comes from holding back rising water.
The expression usually appears with negative developments: The company couldn't stem the tide of customer complaints.
You stem the tide of something—rarely just stem the tide alone.
- hold backPrevent forward movement
- hold the fortAssume temporary responsibility
- curbRaised road margin
- checkOrder to pay
- constrainTo limit or restrict
halt · stop the bleeding · dam · stanch · bridle · counteract · fight back · surge · thwart · flood · rising waters · stave off · keep at bay · fend off · quell · ebb · stop · hold the line
stem the tidego with the flow
Accept situations without resistance
give in · surrender · capitulate · yield · succumb
stem the tideaccelerate
Increase in velocity
fan the flames · add fuel to the fire · open the floodgates · amplify · fuel
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