dishwater

[ dish-waw-ter, -wot-er ]

noun

1. water in which dishes are, or have been, washed.

dishwater

/ ˈdɪʃˌwɔːtə /

noun

1. water in which dishes and kitchen utensils are or have been washed
2. something resembling this

   that was dishwater, not coffee

Word History and Origins

Origin of dishwater¹

First recorded in 1475–85; dish + water

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. dull as dishwater / ditchwater, extremely dull; boring.

More idioms and phrases containing dishwater

see dull as dishwater .

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, the news is usually pretty slow this time of year so any gaffe is going to get outsized attention because the media is desperate for campaign stories that aren't dull as dishwater.

From Salon

On another visit, a vastly more congenial server instantly went to investigate a cocktail that, according to my notes, consisted of “funk smell, salt, dishwater.”

From Seattle Times

Poultry feathers littered the filthy floor, which was also dripping with animal blood and dirty dishwater.

From Salon

From their desks, nearly 30 stories off the ground, they watched as the sky transformed from hazy, slate blue in the morning to dirty, dishwater gray at noon.

From New York Times

University graduate Ms Espie launched a legal action against the restaurant chain after the accident while changing dishwater detergent in December 2019.

From BBC

Related Words

• bouillon
• chowder
• porridge
• puree