troubled waters
The phrase "troubled waters" is often used metaphorically to describe challenging or unstable situations, drawing on the imagery of turbulent seas.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2General
(figurative)A situation filled with difficulties, conflict, or confusion.
Example
- The company navigated through troubled waters during the economic downturn.
- Their relationship has been in troubled waters since the argument.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "troubled waters":
uncharted waterdeep waterin troublehell or high waterwhite waterdead wateruncharted territory