hot water

American  

noun

Informal.

1. trouble; a predicament.

   His skipping classes will get him into real hot water when exam time comes.

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hot water Idioms  

1. Trouble or difficulty, as in She's deep in political hot water, or We got in hot water over the car deal, or He's finally paid his tuition and is out of hot water with the school. This metaphoric term alludes to water hot enough to burn one. [First half of 1500s] Also see in trouble with.

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Etymology

Origin of hot water

First recorded in 1530–40

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hot water

Residents at a block of flats in north-west London have been left without heating or hot water due to historic unpaid bills of £600,000, despite monthly payments being made over several years.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

About 75% of British households rely on natural gas for heating and hot water, not to mention the needs of what’s left of British industry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

But the mayor insists that back-up plans will be in place, with generators provided at schools and medical facilities for light, heating and hot water.

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026

The lawyers added that Dawson Housing's records did not establish that there was an eight-day period without heating or hot water.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

He turned on the hot water and quickly began to shave.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

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