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dead in the water

Idioms  
  1. Unable to function or move; inoperable. For example, Without an effective leader, our plans for expansion are dead in the water. Originally referring to a crippled ship, this colloquialism was soon applied more broadly.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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His "if there isn't alignment here, we're dead in the water before we start" comment at the fans' Q&A last month could come back to haunt him and the club.

From BBC Jun. 11, 2026

Still, the revival of a trade deal once deemed dead in the water is good news for both the EU and India.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 28, 2026

Without AI, the U.S. economy would be dead in the water, according to Jason Furman of Harvard External link, a former head of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama.

From Barron's Oct. 17, 2025

“Now those civil cases are dead in the water, because you have an arsonist,” said Neama Rahmani, president of the L.A.-based law firm West Coast Trial Lawyers, which is handling Eaton fire cases against Edison.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 9, 2025

“We sailed past a hippocamp last month, dead in the water at the Lithian peninsula,” said Warren.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

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