dull as dishwater
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: dull as ditchwater
Meaning · English
Boring; ordinary; exceedingly dull.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
‘My blessed Public must have a pretty girl’s face. Romance isn’t romance, adventure is as dull as dishwater...to my Public...unless, every so often, a face to sink a thousand ships, or is it saps? shows up.’
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 “dull as dishwater” mean?
Boring; ordinary; exceedingly dull.
Is “dull as dishwater” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.