Examples:

• Dude, if you can't keep your head above water, stop moving and let yourself sink to the bottom.
• The business is in trouble, but we are just about keeping our heads above water.
• We are keeping our head above water, but our cash flow position is not too good.
• She keeping her head above water right now but if she doesn't find another job soon she'll have to move back home to her parents' house.
• I've been keeping my head above water for three months working part-time but my holiday job will be ending soon and I'm not sure what I will do.
• Financial experts recommend you put at least six months' of your income into a savings account to help you keep your head above water if you suddenly lose your job.
• Our family business is only keeping its head above water because we're renting out some of our office space to another company.
• I can barely keep my head above water at work and my boss still hasn't hired anyone to replace three people who left our department. If things don't change soon I'll quit.