Meaning of take on water | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To slowly fill with water, as due to a leak or being washed by high waves; to begin to sink.
2. To be in an increasingly difficult or risky situation; to falter or begin to fail.
   broadly, idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“The skipper, Matt Craughwell, said their boat had begun to take on water after being tossed, stern upwards, by huge waves.”

“While the heartland is chugging right along, the economies of Southern California and New England are still taking on water.”

“Democrats on Capitol Hill . . . are struggling not to go down with the Obama campaign (which is taking on water at an alarming rate).”

“The team refinanced $250 million of debt and is no longer taking on water under the leadership of GM Sandy Alderson.”

CEFR level