go with the flow

Idioms

Also, go with the tide. Move along with the prevailing forces, accept the prevailing trend, as in Rather than striking out in new directions, I tend to go with the flow, or Pat isn't particularly original; she just goes with the tide. The flow in the first and more colloquial term, which dates from the late 1900s, alludes to the ebb and flow of tides and probably gained currency because of its appealing rhyme.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“From day one we realized this was out of our control, we would go with the flow and stay optimistic and positive about it,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

While you want to go with the flow, it seems like you don’t trust the maid of honor to finalize the trip details.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026

"And he's an even better person. He told me to go out there, have fun, go with the flow."

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2025

You go with the flow to some extent.

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2024

My dad told me to go with the flow.

From "Crenshaw" by Katherine Applegate

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

go with the flow

Example Sentences

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