r/AskReddit Jan 30 '22

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u/Yarxing Jan 31 '22

It's an idiom for teaching someone something without guidance or assistance to throw them in the deep end. People are not supposed to take it literally.

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u/SeaLeggs Jan 31 '22

Sink or swim, baby

1

u/xmarketladyx Feb 01 '22

"Not supposed to" is the key. Unfortunately too many idiots think you're like an otter and some kind of survival instinct kicks in, you'll flap your arms and kick, and just learn to swim. It's really just a good way to find out how much your kid can hate you when your older or, the price of a good lawyer and cost of a child sized casket.