Ins kalte Wasser springen

To "jump into cold water" means tackling a challenging situation without much preparation - diving in headfirst.

The physical sensation of plunging into cold water – the shock, disorientation, and need to adapt quickly – perfectly captures the feeling of facing an unfamiliar challenge. The expression likely originated around bathing areas of the North and Baltic Seas, where water temperatures remain bracing even in summer. It became popularized in the early 20th century as recreational swimming gained popularity.

🇩🇪 – Bei meinem ersten Job musste ich wirklich ins kalte Wasser springen, denn ich hatte nur einen Tag zum Einarbeiten. 🇬🇧 – At my first job, I really had to jump in at the deep end, as I only had one day of training.