Be carried by the tide 🚶♀️🌊
Meaning
To be influenced or controlled by prevailing circumstances or popular opinion, unable to resist the direction in which things are moving.
Origin
This phrase paints a vivid picture straight from the coastlines of our imagination, where the relentless ebb and flow of the ocean dictates the movement of everything upon its surface. For centuries, sailors and coastal dwellers watched as debris, boats, and even swimmers were helplessly guided by the powerful, unseen forces of the currents. This natural phenomenon became a potent metaphor for human life, illustrating how individuals can find themselves passively moving along with broader societal shifts, economic winds, or popular sentiments, much like a stray piece of driftwood surrendered to the ocean's mighty pull.