如果一个项目、计划或生意被描述为 “be dead in the water”，意思就是 “败局已定，无望成功”。

例句

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。

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。