Context #1: James is met at home by his angry
mother


Mother: You are in hot water, young man!

James: Why? What did I do?

Mother: You took the car without asking. Now you come home – and it’s 2:00 am!
You didn’t call or tell me where you were!

James: But, Mom, I couldn’t tell you; I went to a SURPRISE party!

Mother: Well, surprise! You’re grounded!


Context #2: Doreen and Tom are in school talking
about their classmate, Gina


Doreen: Can you believe Gina? She’s not here again.

Tom: Do you think the teacher notices?

Doreen: Oh yeah! Mrs. Lynch told Gina that she’d be in hot water if she
missed another class.

Meaning: to be in trouble. “Hot water” is a bad situation. We have many idioms that connect “hot” things with difficult situations: “out of the frying pan and into the fire” and “feel the heat” are two others.

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