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ditchwater

American  
[dich-waw-ter, -wot-er] / ˈdɪtʃˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒt ər /

noun

  1. water, especially stagnant and dirty water, that has collected in a ditch.

idioms

  1. dull as ditchwater. dishwater.

ditchwater British  
/ ˈdɪtʃˌwɔːtə /

noun

  1. stagnant water

  2. extremely uninspiring

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ditchwater

1275–1325; Middle English. See ditch, water

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.

Even to many people well versed in British politics "treaty change" makes ditchwater look alluring by comparison.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2014

Why I thought this programme would be great, I don't know: sporting types are lovely to look at, inspirational when performing, but – mostly – as dull as ditchwater.

From The Guardian • Jul. 21, 2012

Some of the shots have overwhelming power; some are dull as ditchwater.

From Time Magazine Archive

Some of them camp in packing-box jungles and drink ditchwater; others are lucky enough to lodge in new government camps with modern plumbing and electric washing machines.

From Time Magazine Archive

They squatted in a bleak wood and drank ditchwater strained through a rag.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.