1 B2 idiomatic neutral
To provide enough resources, money, or help to allow someone to survive a difficult or temporary period.
"Could you lend me fifty pounds to tide me over until I get paid on Friday?"
separable
tide over
B2 neutral separable transitive
To provide someone with enough of what they need (money, food, etc.) to get through a difficult period.
In plain English
To give someone just enough help to survive until things get better.
What does "tide over" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
For a tide to carry something over an obstacle — the metaphor is somewhat transparent once explained.
Actually means
To give someone just enough help to survive until things get better.
Usage tip
Almost always used with a person as the object and a time expression or difficult period implied. The metaphor comes from the sea — a tide carries a ship over a difficult obstacle. Common in financial, domestic, and humanitarian contexts.
Words that pair with "tide over"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
money loan food supplies cash period
How to conjugate "tide over"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tide over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tides over
he/she/it
Past simple
tided over
yesterday
Past participle
tided over
have + pp
-ing form
tiding over
continuous
Hear "tide over" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "tide over" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "tide over"
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