# water to one's mill

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/water-to-ones-mill
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

That which energizes or stimulates one.

## Examples

- This new project is water to my mill.
- The professor loves difficult questions, so the student's challenging inquiry was truly water to his mill.
- For the ambitious researcher, the discovery of the rare manuscript served as water to her mill, providing the exact evidence needed to complete her thesis.

## Origin

From the image of water directed into a channel to power a watermill. The idiom identifies an occurrence that provides an advantage or serves a particular interest, with similar constructions appearing across numerous European languages.

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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.