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dead in the water
/dɛd ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər/◆idiom
completely inactive or useless
After the scandal, the company's reputation was dead in the water.
The company could no longer function effectively due to the scandal.
informal
completely inactive, ineffective, or useless
The project is dead in the water after the funding was cut.
The project cannot proceed due to lack of financial support.
His career was dead in the water after the failed presentation.
His career suffered a major setback from the presentation.
Often used to describe systems, projects, reputations, or plans that have failed or become useless.
Collocations
politically dead in the waterunable to gain support or momentumlegally dead in the waterunable to proceed due to legal issues
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid literal interpretation
This idiom does not refer to actual water or death. It metaphorically describes something that has lost all function or value.
Gold Rule
Use for complete failure
Only use this idiom when something has completely lost its ability to function or succeed. It implies irreversible failure.
Word Origin
Originates from nautical terminology, where a ship 'dead in the water' is one that has lost all power and cannot move. The phrase metaphorically extended to describe any situation where something has become completely inactive or useless.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in business, politics, and personal contexts to describe failure or loss of effectiveness. Avoid using in formal legal or technical documents where precision is critical.
English Dictionary