dead in the water

Idioms  

1. Unable to function or move; inoperable. For example, Without an effective leader, our plans for expansion are dead in the water. Originally referring to a crippled ship, this colloquialism was soon applied more broadly.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dead in the water

During the height of the Covid-19 era, cruises seemed dead in the water: Nations were closing their doors and ships have long been seen as potential petri dishes given how quickly germs can spread onboard.

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

Still, the revival of a trade deal once deemed dead in the water is good news for both the EU and India.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026

"We were written off in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election with very similar arguments - you were dead in the water before you had begun according to the Scottish media," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2025

For months, the plan appeared dead in the water because his party didn’t have the votes needed in Congress to make the necessary changes in the constitution.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2024

“We sailed past a hippocamp last month, dead in the water at the Lithian peninsula,” said Warren.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell