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

Rendall & Rittner said discussions with the freeholder and energy supplier were "continuing urgently", but it could not currently confirm when heating and hot water would be restored.

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

She said instead of keeping hot water on a timer, she only switched it on when she needed it for washing, cooking or bathing before turning it off again.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Garner-Gatley said she had started going to bed earlier to keep warm while watching television and had recently begun using a hot water bottle and bed socks as evening temperatures dropped.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

There was already some hot water in the kettle, so I filled the hot-water bottle and put it under the blankets.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

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