tiding over
Getting someone through
Tiding over is helping someone through a difficult period with temporary assistance.
The phrase implies a stopgap measure—enough to manage until circumstances improve: Can you lend me twenty to tide me over until payday?
The image is of carrying someone across troubled waters to safety on the other side.
- stopgapTemporary substitute measure
- helpAssistance given
- subsidyFinancial assistance from government
- workaroundMakeshift bypass of difficulty
- holding patternCircular flight awaiting clearance
getting by · making ends meet · band-aid · aid · assistance · loan · endurance · resourcefulness · bailout · relief · stipend · perseverance · sustenance · contingency plan · adaptability · grant · backing · rescue