ɪn hɒt ˈwɔːtər
Nature & Weather
informal
beginner
- Literally:
- Submerged in water that is hot
What does "in hot water" mean?
- In trouble or facing difficulties
- In a situation that may lead to punishment or problems
Examples
- He's in hot water with his boss for missing the deadline.
- She found herself in hot water after the controversial tweet.
- You'll be in hot water if you don't finish on time.
Origin
From the painful situation of being in scalding water. May also relate to historical punishments involving boiling water.
How to use it
Common expression for being in trouble. Often used with 'get into' or 'land in.'
Similar expressions
in trouble
in a jam
in a tight spot
Opposites
in the clear
off the hook
in good standing
Related idioms
- out of the blue
Unexpectedly; without warning
- beat around the bush
To avoid talking about the main point of a conversation
- every cloud has a silver lining
There is something positive in every negative situation
- go with the flow
To accept things as they are and adapt accordingly
- once in a blue moon
Very rarely; almost never
- tip of the iceberg
A small visible part of a much larger hidden problem
Use it in a practice answer
Try "in hot water" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.