ENGLISH
REFERENCE

drown the miller

idiom
Meaning

To put too much water in something; overdilute.


Origin

disputed origin

Originally drown the miller's thumb, meaning to go over the specified mark.

Examples
SIMPLE

Don't drown the miller when you make the tea.

CONTEXTUAL

The recipe calls for a thick sauce, so be careful not to drown the miller.

COMPLEX

By adding excessive water to the mixture, the novice cook managed to drown the miller and ruined the consistency of the soup.

Anchors to
Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    drown out

    To cover, obscure, or overwhelm by being louder or more intense than.

  2. 02

    dusty miller

    A formulaic phrase for a miller, related to the dust generated in the milling process.

  3. 03

    Miller of Dee

    Someone who lives independently and unattached to others, especially for selfish reasons.

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