"in hot water"是一个口语化的英语短语,核心含义是:处于麻烦、困境或尴尬的局面(通常因自身行为失误、犯错或引发问题所致)。
字面直译是“在热水里”,引申为“像掉进热水里一样难受/棘手”——即因做错事、违反规则或惹恼他人而面临麻烦。
基本结构:主语 + be动词/系动词 + in hot water(表示“正处于麻烦中”)
延伸结构:get into hot water(“陷入麻烦”,强调“从无到有”的过程);be in deep hot water(“陷入更大的麻烦”,程度更深)
① If you forget to submit the report by Friday, you'll be in hot water with the manager.
(如果你周五前忘了交报告,会被经理找麻烦的。)
② She got into hot water for spreading rumors about her colleague.
(她因为传同事的谣言而惹上了麻烦。)
③ The company is in deep hot water after the product safety scandal.
(产品安全丑闻后,这家公司陷入了大麻烦。)
④ Don't lie to your parents—you'll end up in hot water when they find out.
(别对父母撒谎,他们发现后你会有麻烦的。)
"in trouble"更通用,可指任何麻烦(比如生病、经济困难);
"in hot water"更口语、更具体,强调“因自身过错/行为引发的麻烦”(类似“闯祸”)。
简单来说,"in hot water"就是“闯祸了/惹麻烦了”,是日常对话中很常用的表达~