this issue is dead in the water

Hi, Lin. Welcome to A2K. The expression "dead in the water" is vernacular for something that no longer is attended or has ceased to exist. I believe that originally, it refered to folks found floating face down in the oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, whatever. YUK!

P.S. When I tried the spell check option here, I found it to be "dead in the water."

My sense of it, especially when coupled with "issue", is that something that should be moving forward has stopped. It's no longer a valid issue. For example, "The Swift Boat allegations are dead in the water."

Thank you very much for your help, Letty and Sozobe! :-)

Whenever I hear the phrase, I think of a boat whose engines have broken down. The boat is no longer moving (except for drifting with the current). It is "dead in the water".

For the meaning, Letty and Sozobe are correct. It means something (a project, an argument, etc) that is no longer progressing or moving forward.

Yes, I think it was a phrase that originated as a Navy term referring to a boat not sunk but disabled from propulsion. I believe it could also have refered to a vessel whose sails were so damaged from battle that they were useless.

When I was a student at the University and poor as a church mouse, I managed to provide foot for the table by hunting the lands around my house. Often in the winter there were ducks and geese near the river behind my house. Once in awhile I would be able to shoot a duck or goose on the fly but it would fall into the river where it floated "dead in the water." Those days, I relied on Kraft mac and cheese for dinner.

Does foot in mouth taste any better with melted cheddar?

Only with a dollop of toe jam