in hot water
/ɪn ˌhɒt ˈwɔːtə/INFORMAL · B2
Meaning
in trouble and likely to be punished or criticised
Examples
- 1Leo is in hot water with his boss for missing the client meeting.
- 2If Mum finds out we borrowed her car, we'll be in hot water.
- 3The café was in hot water after an inspector found mice in the kitchen.
- 4You'll be in hot water if the teacher sees you copying Aisha's homework.
- 5Why is Ben in hot water with the landlord? Did he forget the rent again?
Grammar
Keep the phrase fixed: no article before hot water. It usually follows be; the person who is angry follows with with.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about problems and trouble
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →the last strawthe final problem that makes a situation impossible to acceptget to the bottom ofto find out the real cause of something or the truth about itthe tip of the iceberga small visible part of a much larger problembe asking for troubleto act in a way that will probably cause problems for youmake a mountain out of a molehillto treat a small difficulty as if it were seriousa storm in a teacupa lot of anger or worry about something unimportant
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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