hot water

Definitions

1. A dangerous situation; trouble.
   figuratively, idiomatic, uncountable
2. Fierce criticism.
   figuratively, idiomatic, uncountable
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see hot, water.
   uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“Both students are in hot water from fighting.”

“The government's new proposal has landed them in hot water.”

“Zuckerberg got into hot water on Wednesday when he stated that Facebook wouldn’t necessarily remove⟳ Holocaust deniers from its platform because people “get⟳ things wrong” and because it’s not always possible to understand⟳ the deniers’ intent.”

“I once got myself in a bit of hot water by saying a couple of individuals in a key management/leadership role lacked competency for a senior role in the running of the railway.”

CEFR level