walk on water

English

Etymology

From the miracle of Jesus walking on water, described in the Gospels.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

walk on water (third-person singular simple present walks on water, present participle walking on water, simple past and past participle walked on water)

1. (idiomatic, in hypothetical constructions) To perform godlike or superhuman feats.

   He may be rich and influential, but he can't walk on water.

   After the day I had today, I feel like I could walk on water.

   • 1979, “New Dawn Fades”, in Ian Curtis (lyrics), Unknown Pleasures, performed by Joy Division:

     Oh, I've walked on water, run through fire / Can't seem to feel it anymore

   • 2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 29:

     Six years ago, McCormack was walking on water as the cop who cracked the Quaker case.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see walk,‎ water.

Usage notes

• Not to be confused with tread water.

Further reading

• Jesus walking on water on Wikipedia.Wikipedia