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Region: General | Usage example: He was in hot water with management after missing three deadlines.

In hot water

Meaning

In trouble.

Usage

Idiomatic for trouble or risk of punishment.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

From boiling water being dangerous.

Appears in 19th-century cautionary tales.

Related Idioms

In deep water

In serious trouble.

Water under the bridge

Past events that are forgiven or no longer important.

Come hell or high water

No matter what obstacles appear.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.