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

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 were written off in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election with very similar arguments - you were dead in the water before you had begun according to the Scottish media," he said.

From BBC • Sep. 7, 2025

He stood there, twitching nervously, dead in the water, while my siblings and I winced and held our breath to keep from laughing.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride