Search results
Dead in the water means unable to function or doomed, and comes from the nautical term for a motionless boat. Learn how this phrase evolved from a literal to a figurative sense, and see some usage examples from newspapers.
Learn the meaning of the idiom "be dead in the water", which means to be unsuccessful or hopeless. See synonyms, antonyms, examples and translations in different languages.
5 days ago · Dead in the water means that someone or something is unsuccessful, and has little hope of future success. It can also mean that something is completely inactive or inoperable. See how to use this phrase in sentences and compare British and American meanings.
Learn the origin and meaning of the nautical term "dead in the water", which means to have no momentum or chance of progression. See examples of how to use this phrase in different contexts and test your knowledge with a quiz.
Learn the meaning and origin of the phrase "dead in the water", which means completely defunct or unable to function. See examples, synonyms and related expressions from various sources.
Dead in the water is a phrase that means incapable of being effective or doomed. It can be used to describe something that is stalled, useless, or hopeless. See examples, synonyms, and related phrases.
1 day ago · Informal. 1. at a standstill from the loss of power, momentum, vigor, etc. 2. destined for certain failure or ruin; doomed. See full dictionary entry for dead. Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. dead in the water in American English.
