Ditchwater

/ˈdɪtʃˌwɔtər/ noun

Definition

Water that stagnates or flows through a ditch; often used to describe murky, stale, or unpleasant water.

Etymology

Compound from 'ditch' and 'water,' used metaphorically to describe water of poor quality, becoming a proverbial expression in phrases like 'dull as ditchwater.'

Kelly Says

The phrase 'dull as ditchwater' goes back centuries and entered literature to describe anything boring—but modern ditches actually host amazing biodiversity, from insects to amphibians!

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