get into hot water—get into difficulty or trouble:
- Mayor Rances could get into hot water if government state prosecutors make good their threat.
pour cold water on someone—(also: throw cold water on someone) discourage a person; curb smb.’s enthusiasm:
- I could sense that he said it with care and honesty, not deliberately to pour cold water on me or my idea.
Cf.: be a cold shower to someone—said of a surprisingly chilly reception, reaction, or response:
- The small voter turnout was a cold shower to the League of Women Voters.