in low water
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Financially embarrassed; or, in a bad state of health. The phrase comes from seafaring men; cp. "stranded," "left high and dry.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “in low water” mean?
Financially embarrassed; or, in a bad state of health. The phrase comes from seafaring men; cp. "stranded," "left high and dry.
Is “in low water” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.