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

Example Sentences

If you live in a jurisdiction where VPN use is restricted or monitored, using a VPN could land you in legal hot water.

From Salon

"That's something that can clinch the diagnosis for me, when someone says they're better with a hot shower. Patients describe going through all the hot water in their house," he said.

From Science Daily

As a result, hot water and cold gas emerge from the seafloor only a few centimeters apart.

From Science Daily

However, that practice landed Venture Global in hot water after it kept contracted customers waiting for gas in 2022 from its Calcasieu Pass terminal, which was under construction in Louisiana at the time.

From Barron's

"We saw that hot water immersion was the most impactful in increasing core body temperature, which is the main stimulus for these subsequent responses," Atencio said.

From Science Daily