English Idiom – Choppy waters.
This expression refers to troublesome, difficult or uncertain times. This idiom is usually used when someone or something has difficult times ahead. It is often used to refer to a turbulent period in a person’s life or a difficult situation that must be navigated.
We can face, head into, sail into or prepare for choppy waters.
Choppy is an adjective that describes something that is rough, uneven, or interrupted. It can be used to describe a variety of things, including the sea, a person’s voice, or a person’s writing. “The choppy sea made the boat rock back and forth.”
Related Expressions:
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- You are in a meeting at work discussing a difficult business negotiation.
- When describing a turbulent period with a friend.
- You are discussing a volatile stock market with your financial advisor.
- A family member is talking about a rocky relationship with their partner.
Example:
- “I’m worried about my job because I think my company is heading into choppy waters.”
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Look it upMerriam-Webster: the definition of “choppy”merriam-webster.comWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
It refers to troublesome, difficult or uncertain times — a turbulent period in someone’s life or situation.
It comes from sailing — choppy describes rough, uneven water that makes a boat rock, and the phrase was extended to describe any turbulent situation.
You can say someone is “heading into”, “sailing into”, “facing” or “preparing for” choppy waters when difficult times are ahead.
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