E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Swim (In the).
In society. The upper crust of society. An angler’s phrase. A lot of fish gathered together is called a swim, and when an angler can pitch his hook in such a place he is said to be “in a good swim.” To know persons in the swim is to know society folk, who always congregate together.
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“Cottontree, who knows nearly everybody in the swim of European society … informs him that Lucy Annerley is the daughter of Sir Jonas Stevens.”—A. C. Gunter: Mr. Potter of Texas, book iii. chap. xiv.
