troubled waters

Noun

troubled waters pl (plural only)

1. (figuratively, plural, plural-only) Difficulties, chaos, tribulations, or other confusing and problematic aspects of a situation.
   • Not only were the troubled waters in the Middle East, they had spilled over into Australia.1976, Jim Cairns, Oil in Troubled Waters, page 73
   • The tide that was rushing in to pull them both out to troubled waters was stopped at the edge of the shore by the ringing of the telephone.2000, Kathryn M. White, Troubled Waters: I Never Came This Way Before, page 158
2. (plural, plural-only) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see troubled, water.; water that is stirred up with high waves, chaotic currents, etc., and therefore difficult to navigate.
   • The rain falling in torrents– the rolling waves, commingling their heavy roar with the pealing claps of thunder– the quiverying lighning, flashing in burnished brighness across the mighty deep, exposing its troubled waters to full view – the laboring ship, rolling from side to side, creaking in...1847, S. W. Remington, William Vane: Or, The Young Deserter: A Moral Tale, page 26
   • In the Perseus and Andromeda series we go again in the Dragon country, through troubled waters, where the waves foam round picturesque rock on which we do not fear to slip, wearing Mercury's sandals.1902, Year-book of the Council of Supervisors of the Manual Arts, page 121