hot water

noun

Informal.

1. trouble; a predicament.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hot water¹

First recorded in 1530–40

Idioms and Phrases

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.