[Josy]

Dishwater

[fruit_cake]

I always assumed it was dishwater

[Marc]

This thread has blown my mind

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Marc

This thread has blown my mind

[Angus]

It's ditchwater and the phrase dates back to the 18th century. Ditchwater is muddy and dirty (dull as in opaque, not transparent or clear), and to call someone or something dull as ditchwater plays on its other meaning which is "boring" or "tedious".

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Angus

It's ditchwater and the phrase dates back to the 18th century. Ditchwater is muddy and dirty (dull as in opaque, not transparent or clear), and to call someone or something dull as ditchwater plays on its other meaning which is "boring" or "tedious".

It was you who inspired this thread

[GypsyGoth]

Dishwater isn't always dull, sometimes it's pretty clear, whereas ditchwater is dull.

[Niall]

Ditchwater? I've never heard anyone say that, or type it on this forum.

It's dishwater.

[Kazanne]

It's dishwater,where I live,but both make sense.

[Marc]

Wait what? It's actually ditchwater?

What the hell is that, water in a ditch?

[joeysteele]

I think it's as 'dull as ditchwater' originally but people over time have come to use dishwater instead of that. All the people I know who say it use the term dishwater.

Come to think of it it would depend how dirty the dishes were as to how dull the dishwater would be whereas water in a ditch is always likely to be dull,dirty and clouded.

[Maia]

I'm pretty sure I've even heard some people say "dull as a dishwasher"

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Mollie.

I'm pretty sure I've even heard some people say "dull as a dishwasher"

Those people suffer from poor vocabulary

[Omah]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ditchwater

ditchwater
[dich-waw-ter, -wot-er]  

noun
1.
water, especially stagnant and dirty water, that has collected in a ditch.

Idiom
2.
dull as ditchwater. dishwater ( def. 2 ) .

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English. See ditch, water

ditchwater (ˈdɪtʃˌwɔːtə)

— n

1.

stagnant water

2.

as dull as ditchwater , ditchwater extremely uninspiring

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dishwater

dishwater
[dish-waw-ter, -wot-er]  

noun
1.
water in which dishes are, or have been, washed.

Idiom
2.
dull as dishwater / ditchwater, extremely dull; boring.

Origin:
1475–85; dish + water

dishwater (ˈdɪʃˌwɔːtə)

— n

1.

water in which dishes and kitchen utensils are or have been washed

2.

something resembling this: that was dishwater, not coffee

IMO, it should be "ditch-water", i.e. a stagnant and lifeless pool (in which nothing can survive)

"dishwater" is usually fresh water contaminated by the remnants of a meals/drinks, thus resembling a thin, murky soup (from which "life" could eventually emerge)

[Marc]

[spitfire]

Dish.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

ditchwater sal

[Suze]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I always thought it was dishwater but I've seen alot of people on here say ditchwater. Which is it?

I always thought the same as you, Niamh, but think it is ditchwater and it has just changed over time, a bit like Chinese whispers people probably thought others were saying dishwater so it stuck.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Suze

I always thought the same as you, Niamh, but think it is ditchwater and it has just changed over time, a bit like Chinese whispers people probably thought others were saying dishwater so it stuck.

Yeah, just like "would've" and "should've" have become "would of" and "should of" ..... language is inevitably corrupted .....

[Mystic Mock]

Everybody that I know says dishwater and imo that's what it is.

What the heck is ditchwater?

[fruit_cake]

team dishes ftw

[Angus]

Language is organic and is constantly evolving. The correct derivation comes from "dull as ditchwater", but "dull as dishwater" also makes sense, so it really doesn't matter which is used, since we all know what is meant

[Harry!]

I say Dishwater.

[King Gizzard]

Dishwater is easier to say