What Does “Go With The Flow” Mean? Proper Use In Writing

Go with the flow is a phrase we have used and if not, we have heard it. This is a very common idiom. Do we know how to use it properly? We are going to present all you need to know about this phrase.

The phrase “go with the flow” means to let things be and not resist them. Proper use for this phrase in writing will be, for example: to tell a friend to stop stressing out about life.

Origin Of The Phrase

Some people think that its origins go back to 160 AC. Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor was the first to say this. Is recorded in his writings “The Meditations”. He wrote a lot about the flow of happiness and thoughts and he concluded that most things flow naturally. In his opinion, it was better to “go with the flow” than to try and change society.

Then sometime in 1960s America, this idiom was accredited to the hippies. They liked outdoor activities, but also adopted a philosophy of taking life easy, not getting worked up, not struggling, or fighting. Not complicating the simple things and to relaxation.

Definition Of The Phrase.

I would like to start with two definitions for the idiom “Go with the flow”. These two definitions will build a general idea in regards to what this means.

• “To do what other people are doing or to agree with other people because it is the easiest thing to do. When you’re new in a school, it is easiest to go with the flow for a while, see what people are like”. Definition by the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary.
• To casually take part in a circumstance without attempting to transform it or attest power over it.

Example:

• If you want to be accepted into the group, you need to go with the flow.
• We always do things your way. Can’t you just go with the flow for once?
• I try not to plan too much when I take a vacation to a new place. I like to just go with the flow when I get there.

Other Definitions

As we know now, there is no one meaning or one way to use it, and there you have two other implications of this idiom:

To do things the same way others near you are doing in any given situation.

Respect the norms, conducts, and standards not fighting but behave yourself.

To free yourself from stress and adapt to any situation instead of trying too hard to change it.

Synonyms (phrases)

Some expressions show the same meaning (depending on the context) as “go with the flow”. Here I share with you some of them:

Just Go With It

Example: Sometimes in life, you need to just go with it. In this example, this means that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Go With The Tide

Example: I might want to suggest you go with the tide until you reach a higher position in the organization. This means don’t make changes for the moment, or take decisions as of now, be patient and wait for the right moment.

Go With The Stream/Go Or Drift With The Stream

Example:

• “It is very common to see people who prefer to go with the stream”.
• There is a not-so-positive sentence very common to hear about this, Only dead fish swim with the stream.
• At the point when I was in school, I used to have a lot of radical opinions and convictions. Now that I’m more experienced, I wind up going with the stream more often.
• I’m sorry, but I simply refuse to go along with the stream just because it’s the easier option.

Follow Along

• To do something as others do it.

Example: I have no idea how to get out of the stadium, so I’m just following along with the throng of people.

• To trail closely behind someone or something.

Example: When you have a toddler, you can always count on them following along with anything you try to do around the house.

• To monitor something to keep pace with what someone else is doing.

Example: I couldn’t quite hear what the actors were saying, so I followed along with the closed captions.

Synonyms (words)

There are other synonyms in one word that can refer to this idiom.

Example:

• Adaptable
• Flexible
• Moldable
• Malleable
• Examples:

Positive Form

Examples

• Paul is getting very excited now that he learned that to dance is not a specific way to move, but to feel the music and “go with the flow”.
• It is impossible to have everything going your way, so the best thing to do is go with the flow.
• Is good when you go with the flow and you mean it.

Negative Form

Examples

• I have to be true to myself and not “go with the flow”.
• Rebecca needed to leave, but all her classmates asked her to stay, and if she doesn’t want to upset her classmates she will need to go with the flow.
• You don’t need to go with the flow because it is easier.

Famous quotes:

The phrase “go with the flow” has been used by many people. Here we can find philosophers, and TV personalities like singers, or politicians, and movie stars.

“I really feel like life will dictate itself. You should allow it to unfold as naturally as possible. Just go with the flow. When you’re really desperate, you say a few prayers and hope for the best. That’s the way I’ve always lived my life.” Shania Twain

Books

This is the title of some books and some of them are:

Go with the Flow (2020) by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann.

“High school students embark on a crash course of friendship, female empowerment, and women’s health issues”

Go with the Flow: How the Great Master of Go Trained His Mind (2018). by Cho Hunhyu “This book tells us about his life-long training, which has contributed to his amazing achievement in Go. What is his secret? “Victory comes to us when we contemplate with a steadfast focus on the essence,” the great Go master shows us the way to find inner peace.” 09/17/2018

Philosophy

“Flow with whatever is happening and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.” Chuang Tzu

Movie

Go with the Flow (2014). A worried graduate understudy’s steady, by the book’s existence with his girlfriend upside down around by the arrival of his younger brother.

Music

Go With The Flow from

Album: Songs for the Deaf

Queens Of The Stone Age

Piece of content:

“I can go with the flow

But don’t say it doesn’t matter, matter anymore

I can go with the flow

Do you believe it in your head?”

Context Of Where To Use It, Different Uses Of This Phrase

All these examples, synonyms, and phrases exposed here will give us an idea about how to accept things the way they are. It will also mean that we need to accept the fact that things can be controlled, but only at certain levels, and beyond that we need to stop trying. Not all will go our way, so we need to go with the flow sometimes.

Examples Sentences With Context For The Use Of “Go With The Flow”

At School

If you are new and don’t have many friends, your best bet is to go with the flow so you will be able to have the sympathy of the group.

At the Workplace

For instance, you may have an idea, but the boss may not think the same way. You cannot oppose your boss, so you “go with the flow” to build a career.

In A Sports Team

At some point in a cycling race, we can see that everyone lines up behind one another. By doing this, they will have less wind resistance and quite literally “go with the flow.”

In Your Relationship (Family Or Couple)

• This is mainly about focusing on the important things in the relationship.
• To spend less time overthinking about things that I can’t control.
• Also to be open to exciting experiences.
• Be available for new and energizing encounters.
• Relinquish the superfluous pull and push factor inside the relationship

Our thoughts of what we expect from a relationship come from our childhood. A great deal is formed by observing how our folks acted in their relationship.

How To Properly Use In Writing

I want to give you some ideas of what is best for you to properly present the idiom, by placing some examples.

Examples:

• We must choose the option to “go with the flow” and trust the best is on the way.
• My grandma consistently encouraged me to “go with the flow” and to remain safe.
• It’s fine, as long as you are fit and can check out the game intellectually and “go with the flow.”

Conclusion

With the context and examples, we have a clear idea of what “go with the flow” means and how we can properly use it in writing. So now that you have this information and this knowledge you are ready to use this idiom in your writings and “go with the flow.”