To swim while keeping one's clothes on or dry; literally, to swim and retain one’s clothing.
2.
SpainLatin Americaidiomaticcolloquial
To try to obtain the benefits of two incompatible positions or to protect one’s interests while avoiding risk or responsibility; to attempt to have it both ways.
Examples:
ES: Este trabajo consiste en mantener el ritmo sin ser aplastado o en nadar y guardar la ropa.
EN: This job is keeping up without being crushed... or having your clothes torn off.
ES: Tu siempre has querido nadar y guardar la ropa.
EN: You're always looking for a middle you can dance around in.
ES: En esto del amor las mujeres sabemos nadar y guardar la ropa.
EN: When it comes to love, we women know how to swim and put away our clothes.
ES: No puedes nadar y guardar la ropa.
EN: You can't have your cake and eat it too, all the time.
ES: No sé.No puedes nadar y guardar la ropa.
EN: I don't know. You can't have it both ways.
ES: En Italia, aprendió todo cuanto ha de saberse sobre nadar y guardar la ropa.
EN: In Italy, he learnt everything that is to know about swimming and saving the clothes.
ES: ¿Eso que dicen de nadar y guardar la ropa?
EN: That thing about... having your cake and eating it, too?
ES: Puedes nadar y guardar la ropa.
EN: You can even go swimming without getting wet.
ES: Planeaba nadar y guardar la ropa.
EN: I was thinking of playing it closer to the vest.