Phrase guide

there must be something in the water

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ðɛə mʌst biː ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɪn ðə ˈwɔːtə/
  • General-American: /ðɛəɹ mʌst bi ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɪn ðə ˈwɔtəɹ/
  • General-American: [-ɾəɹ]
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɔːtə(ɹ)

1

phrase

Meaning 1

There are so many instances of something unusual, such as in people's behavior, that there must be a common cause.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous, idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the idea that there is a substance in drinking water which many people have drunk, thus affecting their behavior.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: onkohan vedessä jotain outoa? — there are so many instances of something unusual that there must be a common cause