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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dead in the water

"If there isn't alignment here, we're dead in the water before we start, so that discussion has been going on for months already."

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

During the height of the Covid-19 era, cruises seemed dead in the water: Nations were closing their doors and ships have long been seen as potential petri dishes given how quickly germs can spread onboard.

From Barron's ● May 6, 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

They were a franchise that was dead in the water.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2024

It felt as though we’d stopped and were dead in the water.

From "The Cay" by Theodore Taylor