Choose the correct idiom for the word highlighted in bold.
Ravi found himself in deep water after he ran over a pedestrian while driving under the influence of alcohol near his apartment.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
Ravi was in serious trouble.
Explanation
Idiom Definition: The phrase "in deep water" is a figurative expression that means to be in significant trouble, difficulty, or a highly precarious situation that is difficult to escape.
Contextual Clue: The sentence mentions that Ravi "ran over a pedestrian" while "driving under the influence of alcohol." This describes a severe legal and moral crisis, which aligns perfectly with being in serious trouble.
Literal Distractors: "Ravi was enjoying a swim in a river" is an incorrect, literal interpretation of the words "deep water." The other options describe actions that completely miss the gravity of the crisis stated in the context.
Key Points
Core Definition: Idiomatic phrases use metaphorical imagery (like drowning or struggling in deep water) to describe emotional, financial, or legal distress.
Grammatical Role: Identifying prepositional idiomatic phrases that function as adverbial or adjectival complements to define a subject's state of being.