In hot water
Meaning
To be in a difficult, embarrassing, or troublesome situation, often due to having done something wrong.
Origin
During the Middle Ages, the "ordeal by hot water" was a brutal judicial test of innocence. An accused person was forced to plunge their hand into a cauldron of boiling water to retrieve a submerged stone. If their skin blistered, they were declared guilty, leaving them literally "in hot water" with the court. The ritual eventually vanished, but the phrase endured, evolving into our modern, punchy shorthand for being in inescapable trouble.
Examples
- After he missed the deadline, John found himself in hot water with his manager.
- She knew she would be in hot water if her parents discovered she had skipped school.