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

Eco effort Despite the constraints of the property’s 1960 construction and historic landmark status, the units have been modernized with on-demand hot water heaters and efficient mini-split heating and air-conditioning units to reduce fossil fuel use. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026

Rinse the dishes, storage containers, or cookware in hot water and place in a drying rack to air dry. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 2026

The restaurant was in violation of 11 standards, including a door left ajar and no hot water at handwashing sinks. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026

The facility’s hot water peaked below temperature requirements. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado february 20, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hot water

• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater
• granddaughter
• groundwater
• headwater

Kids Definition

hot water

noun

: a distressing situation : trouble

in hot water for not doing my chores