Dead in the water

Meaning

The idiom "dead in the water" means to be completely helpless or unable to move, usually due to a problem with one's physical abilities or technology. It can also refer to an organization, project, or plan that is failing or stagnated. The figurative meaning of this idiom is that something or someone is paralyzed or stuck and unable to make progress.

Usage

• John's car broke down in the middle of the highway, leaving him stranded and "dead in the water" until a tow truck arrived.
• The company's new project was "dead in the water" due to poor management and lack of communication among team members.
• After several failed attempts at fixing his computer, Jack's files were permanently lost and he was left feeling "dead in the water" without access to important information.
• The software that was supposed to revolutionize the industry has been "dead in the water" for months, with no updates or improvements.
• Despite their best efforts, the group could not make progress on the project and were feeling "dead in the water."

Roots and History

The idiom "dead in the water" dates back to the 19th century and is believed to have originated from the idea of a ship that is unable to move or sail due to a problem with its structure or equipment. The phrase likely emerged as a way to describe a situation where someone or something is stuck and unable to make progress.

Synonyms in English

• Stuck in quicksand
• Paralyzed
• Stagnated
• Failed
• Unable to move

Synonyms in other languages

• 欣赏 (Enjoy) - Chinese
• נוחה מתן שבת (Restful Shabbat) - Hebrew
• ¡Vamos al mar! (Let's go to the sea!) - Spanish
• تולפן וקםבן נסעדה (Feast and festivity) - Yiddish
• أكل شمس مريد بناوة (Every sun rises on our house) - Arabic

Similar Idioms

• die in harness

• you can’t take it with you

• pass away