stem the tide

1. Stop the course of a trend or tendency, as in It is not easy to stem the tide of public opinion. This idiom uses stem in the sense of “stop” or “restrain.” [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

"If you're swimming in red ink, an infusion of cash helps stem the tide," he said of the bailout.

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It hasn’t done much to stem the tide.

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Newsom called for an expansion of the state’s film and TV tax credit program late last year in an attempt to stem the tide of productions moving to other states or countries with lucrative incentive packages.

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Recent legislation passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom raised the cap for the film and TV tax credit to $750 million, up from $330 million, a move that Hollywood insiders said would increase the number of productions shot in California and potentially stem the tide of so-called runaway production to other states and countries that offer generous incentive packages.

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In order to stem the tide, the club have made 250 staff redundant and another 200 could lose their jobs in a second round of cuts announced earlier this year.

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