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Synonyms

in hot water

Cultural  

  1. In deep trouble: “When Marjorie flunked algebra, she knew she would be in hot water with her folks.”

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.

Videogame stocks have been in hot water recently.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

This suggests that immersion in hot water may interfere with lice activity or where they lay their eggs.

From Science Daily • Mar. 3, 2026

One, which poked fun at Michael Jordan’s gambling, was featured in USA Today and got the team in hot water with the NBA.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2025

It wouldn’t be the last time that a regrettable decision about spilling on NBA players would land Jones in hot water.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

“Soaking in hot water give you a bad back.”

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

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.