vara ute på djupt vatten

Swedish

Etymology

Literally, "be out in deep water" (or "on deep water," though the på (“on”) can just refer to deep water as a location).

Verb

vara ute på djupt vatten (present är ute på djupt vatten, preterite var ute på djupt vatten, supine varit ute på djupt vatten, imperative var ute på djupt vatten)

1. (idiomatic) to be in a precarious situation (due to going beyond what is reasonable – often of an opinion considered unreasonable in a debate or the like, but also more generally of actions or the like); to be in deep water, (sometimes poor matches, but as more common idioms) to be in over one's head, to be out of one's depth, etc.

   När man antyder att demonstrationer inte ska få störa någon alls så är man ute på djupt vatten

   When you imply that demonstrations shouldn't be allowed to disturb anyone at all, you are in deep water [or "swimming in deep water," as an ad hoc idiom]

See also

• (vara ute) på hal is

References

• vatten in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• vatten in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)