dead as ditch-water
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Unquestionably dead.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
"Do you go in if you like." But I merely shook my head, my excitement was as dead as ditch-water, and my distaste for the prolongation of my mortal span had come back upon me more strongly than ever.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “dead as ditch-water” mean?
Unquestionably dead.
Is “dead as ditch-water” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.