hot water
21
4.0
- noun
- /hɑt ˈwɔtər/
- Informal
:
problemas
- If you keep skipping class, you're going to find yourself in hot water with the principal.
- get in hot water
- find themselves in hot water
- landed in hot water
He he is still in hot water over this little comment from yesterday.
- He he is still in hot water over this little comment from yesterday.
- Oh, you were in hot water about that as well, my friends.
- They underlie the entitlement that can get them into hot water or at the very least frustrate the hell out of the people around them.
- People come to me for match fixing, I report it, I end up in hot water, that sort of thing.
- Oh, you were in hot water about that as well, my friend.
- I get more in hot water with foodies.
Examples
-
Her controversial comments about the policy put her in hot water with the committee.
-
My brother and I are in hot water after missing the deadline for our project.
-
Oh, you were in hot water about that as well, my friends.
-
"Probably going to get myself in hot water," Jack said.
Fiction book (1999) -
And why do you think the school district is in "hot water," as you put it?
Blog text (13) -
You see, my brother and I are in a little hot water, and we need your assistance.
Fiction book (1996) -
He'll blow his top, and I'll be in hot water.
Fiction book (1998) -
You know, Francis has been in a little bit of hot water recently, uh, in the press.
-
Jimmy, well, I'm kind of in some hot water myself over here.
-
Fairly or not, the analogy has landed Akin in hot water.
Blog text (28)
Synonyms
∞
2.9
In difficulty and likely to face bad results because of a mistake or bad situation
81
5.8
A difficult or embarrassing situation that is hard to escape
12
4.1
In trouble because you did something wrong
4
9.3
In trouble because of a problem
3
5.9
A situation that causes serious trouble
3
9.4
In a difficult situation with no easy way out
Antonyms
How Troubled
Surface Forms
Morphology
hot + water
The meaning 'water that has been heated' is directly and transparently derived from the adjective 'hot' modifying the noun 'water' following a regular adjective+noun composition. This is a basic, cross-linguistically common concept, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the intended meaning (separate idiomatic uses like 'in hot water' = 'in trouble' are distinct constructions).
Etymology
The idiom hot water may come from the image of someone put into very hot, burning water as a punishment. That strong picture explains why being in 'hot water' means 'to be in trouble'.