hot water

noun

: a difficult or dangerous situation : trouble entry 1 sense 4
used with in or into
But this poor fellow was always getting into hot water, and if there was a wrong way of doing a thing, was sure to hit upon it.Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
In recent years, comedians have found themselves in hot water for making politically incorrect topics about everything from race to gender.James Hohmann

Examples of hot water in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Soak the tip of the steam wand in hot water as well to remove any sticky milk build-up. Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024 Tips for Choosing the Right Iced Tea Maker Method Traditionally, iced tea is made by steeping leaves in hot water and once fully brewed, the tea is either served over ice or transferred to the refrigerator for chilling. Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2024 Apply the solution on the stain and then soak garments in hot water or whatever is recommended for that specific type of fabric for about 30 minutes and then wash it in the laundry. Audrey Noble, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2024 Inspectors advised that hot water should reach 120 degrees. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024 As the microscopic granules swell with hot water and burst while cooking, japonica releases more sticky starch. Julia Moskin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024 Start by cleaning off sills with a paper towel or cloth soaked in hot water. Jennifer Barger, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024 Anecdotally, some patients effectively relieve a migraine by soaking their feet in hot water. San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2024 The first look begins with agent Alexandra Harper, who joined the cast in season 2, finding herself in hot water over her performance at the O Group. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hot water.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hot water was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near hot water

Cite this Entry

“Hot water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20water. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

hot water

noun
: a distressing situation : trouble
in hot water for not doing my chores

More from Merriam-Webster on hot water

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