He’s in hot water with his boss after missing another deadline.
word origin — From the 1500s — possibly from the medieval practice of pouring hot water down on invading enemies as punishment.
be in hot water, keep a stiff upper lip, draw a blank, stick out like a sore thumb, take the wind out of someone's sails: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 45. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
be in hot water · idiom/ɪn hɑt ˈwɔɾɚ/
to be in trouble or a difficult situation
He’s in hot water with his boss after missing another deadline.
Origin: From the 1500s — possibly from the medieval practice of pouring hot water down on invading enemies as punishment.
keep a stiff upper lip · idiom/stɪf ˈʌpɚ lɪp/
to remain strong and not show emotion in tough situations
Even in difficult times, he kept a stiff upper lip and never complained.
Origin: British 19th-century expression — a trembling upper lip betrays emotion, so keeping it stiff hides feelings.
draw a blank · idiom/drɔ ə blæŋk/
to fail to remember or come up with an answer
I tried to remember his name, but I completely drew a blank.
Origin: From 16th-century English lotteries — drawing a blank ticket meant getting absolutely nothing in return.
stick out like a sore thumb · idiom/stɪk aʊt laɪk ə sɔr θʌm/
to be noticeably different from others in an unpleasant way
Wearing bright pink in a room full of black suits made her stick out like a sore thumb.
Origin: From medieval times — a swollen, bandaged sore thumb naturally drew everyone's eyes wherever you went.
take the wind out of someone's sails · idiom/teɪk ðə wɪnd aʊt əv ˈsʌmwʌnz seɪlz/
to weaken someone’s confidence or enthusiasm
Losing the first round really took the wind out of his sails.
Origin: From sailing — sailing close enough to another ship can steal its wind, instantly stopping its progress.