in hot water

Meaning

This expression means to be in trouble or facing serious criticism, often because of a mistake or rule-breaking. In business settings, it is a casual way to describe someone who is facing disciplinary action, customer complaints, or anger from management.

Examples

• If we don't submit this report by Friday, we're going to be in hot water with the director.

  If we don't submit this report by Friday, we're going to be in hot water with the director.

• He found himself in hot water after making those unauthorized changes to the client's account.

  He found himself in hot water after making those unauthorized changes to the client's account.

• The company is in hot water with regulatory boards over their latest data privacy leak.

  The company is in hot water with regulatory boards over their latest data privacy leak.

• You'll get in hot water if you keep showing up late to meetings with our top investors.

  You'll get in hot water if you keep showing up late to meetings with our top investors.

• She managed to stay out of hot water by admitting her mistake early and offering a solution.

  She managed to stay out of hot water by admitting her mistake early and offering a solution.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He is inside hot water with his boss.

  ✓ He is in hot water with his boss.

  The correct preposition is 'in', not 'inside'.

• ✗ The accounting department got into the hot water.

  ✓ The accounting department got into hot water.

  Do not use the definite article 'the' before 'hot water' in this idiomatic phrase.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you lose those client files, you'll be ___ with the boss.

  💡 Facing serious trouble or anger.

  Show answer

  in hot water

• The marketing team got ___ after launching the ad campaign without approval.

  💡 In trouble.

  Show answer

  in hot water