be in hot water
Meaning
To be in trouble or facing criticism/punishment because of something you did.
Origin
Metaphor: being in “hot water” suggests discomfort and danger. Related imagery appears in older English; modern idiomatic use is well established by the 19th–20th centuries.
Notes
Means you’re in trouble, often with an authority figure. Informal/neutral; severity depends on context. Often followed by “with” to name who you’re in trouble with.
Examples
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If you miss another deadline, you’ll be in hot water with the client.
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He’s in hot water after posting confidential information online.
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We’ll be in hot water if the auditors find those missing receipts.
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She knew she’d be in hot water for using the company card for personal expenses.
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They were in hot water with their neighbors because their dog kept barking at night.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used with forms of “be” (am/is/are/was/were): “be in hot water (with someone) (over/for something).” Article is fixed: “in hot water,” not typically “in the hot water.”
Synonyms
- be in trouble
- be in hot soup
- be in deep water
- be in a tight spot
Antonyms
- be in the clear
- be off the hook