如果一个项目、计划或生意或人被描述为 “be dead in the water”，意思就是 “败局已定，无望成功,泡汤了，胎死腹中，完蛋了，凉凉了”。
If something is dead in the water, it has failed and it seems impossible that it will be successful in the future.
这本是一个航海术语，最初指的是在无风的日子里一动不动的帆船，看起来像是死在了水里。
例句：
His leadership campaign is dead in the water.
他参加领导层竞选无望成功。
Our plans to find funds to build a new swimming pool are dead in the water.
我们筹资建造新游泳池的计划泡汤了。
Now the airport has closed down, our car-hire business is dead in the water.
现在机场关闭了，我们的汽车租赁生意也就完了。
A 'no' vote would have left the treaty dead in the water.
一张否决票可能就会使这个条约胎死腹中。
This project is dead in the water – nobody wants to sponsor it.
这个项目没有成功的希望了，因为没人愿意资助它。
So how does a government revive an economy that is dead in the water?
那么，一个政府如何重振陷入绝境的经济呢？
There's a problem with Thin Man. We're dead in the water. So what are we gonna do about it?（《曼哈顿计划》 第二季第1集）
瘦子计划出了问题。我们的方案根本不可能实现。那我们应该怎么做？