douse with water

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "douse with water" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the action of pouring or soaking something with water, often to extinguish a fire or cool something down. Example: "In an emergency, you should douse with water any flames that may have started in the kitchen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Through the haze, an armoured truck trundled up and started picking out isolated individuals to douse with water from the cannon mounted on its top.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Sitting upon it, the inmate was doused with water.

The New York Times - Arts

He was strapped to a metal chair and doused with water.

The New Yorker

Women said they were doused with water, jeered, slapped on the buttocks or robbed.

The New York Times

He survived after being doused with water and taken to hospital.

The Guardian

Hot rocks were brought into the lodge and doused with water.

The New York Times

The animals - which weighed 13 tonnes - were taken to port, doused with water and sent to an animal welfare centre.

The Guardian

It's like an eight-ring circus: a dancer, lying on his back with his face covered with fabric, is doused with water.

The New York Times - Arts

Waterboarding is a centuries-old interrogation method in which a prisoner's face is covered with cloth and then doused with water to create a feeling of suffocation.

The New York Times

You might grab some nachos and stop to catch a zombie flick at the 5-D cinema, where you'll be doused with water when blood sprays onscreen.

The New Yorker

The mayor of Burbank gets pelted with Ping-Pong balls; Joanne Worley is doused with water; Ruth Buzzi is crushed by a stage set; and Judy Carne is pelted, doused, crushed, and then sprayed by a skunk.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "douse with water" when you want to emphasize a thorough soaking, often for a specific purpose like extinguishing a fire or cooling something down.

Common error

Avoid using "douse with water" in situations where a simpler term like "wet" or "splash" would suffice. "Douse" implies a more forceful or intentional application of water.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "douse with water" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a transitive verb followed by a prepositional phrase. It describes the action of thoroughly soaking something with water.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Arts

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "douse with water" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that describes the action of thoroughly soaking something with water. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is correct and applicable in a variety of contexts, primarily in news and media, but also in more informal settings. While alternatives like "soak with water" or "flood with water" exist, "douse with water" carries a specific connotation of forceful and intentional application, particularly in situations like extinguishing fires or rapid cooling. When writing, it's best to reserve this term for situations where a thorough soaking is intended, avoiding overuse in more casual contexts. "Douse with water" is used in cases such as extinguishing fires and is also often applied to people, sometimes even as torture.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

soak with water

Focuses on saturation rather than just application of water.

saturate with water

Emphasizes complete absorption of water.

immerse in water

Suggests complete submersion in water.

flood with water

Implies a large quantity of water is applied, potentially causing overflow.

deluge with water

Suggests a sudden and overwhelming amount of water.

splash with water

Involves a less forceful and more scattered application of water.

sprinkle with water

Indicates a light and dispersed application of water.

wash with water

Focuses on cleansing or rinsing using water.

rinse with water

Emphasizes the removal of something using water.

water down

Implies diluting something with water.

FAQs

What does "douse with water" mean?

"Douse with water" means to thoroughly soak something with water, often to extinguish a fire, cool an object, or cleanse something.

What can I say instead of "douse with water"?

You can use alternatives like "soak with water", "saturate with water", or "flood with water" depending on the context.

Is "douse with water" the same as "splash with water"?

No, "douse with water" implies a more thorough soaking, while "splash with water" suggests a smaller amount of water applied less forcefully.

When is it appropriate to use "douse with water"?

It's appropriate to use "douse with water" when describing extinguishing a fire, cooling something quickly, or cleansing something thoroughly. For example: "In an emergency, you should "douse with water" any flames that may have started in the kitchen."