# drown the miller

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/drown-the-miller
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To put too much water in something; overdilute.

## Examples

- Don't drown the miller when you make the tea.
- The recipe calls for a thick sauce, so be careful not to drown the miller.
- By adding excessive water to the mixture, the novice cook managed to drown the miller and ruined the consistency of the soup.

## Origin

Originally from the phrase drown the miller’s thumb, meaning to go over the specified mark.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.