Am I as dull as...

[ortonym]

Dishwater
or as dull as ditchwater
Probably both 😃
But which one do you know/use?
Any more ambiguous phrases out there?

[Babdoc]

It’s ditch. The water in a ditch is usually sluggish or stagnant, hence dull or cloudy in appearance, compared to a fast flowing clear stream.
I imagine modern city dwellers are less familiar with ditches, and have misheard it as dishwater, which makes sense to them as being dull grey or scummy.

[MurderAtTheBeautyPageant]

It's ditchwater but I would guess that dishwater has taken over at this point

Same as tenterhooks/tenderhooks and 'you've got another think/thing coming'.

[sallyfacts]

Ditchwater

[follyfoot37]

Ditchwater!

[shadypines]

Dishwasher for me but as they're both dull I'd happily use either!

[PAFMO]

A quick google says both are correct. Ditchwater was the original which some speakers changed into dishwater in the early 1900s.
I've only ever heard and used ditchwater but, like others, only in the context of the idiom. (and spellcheck doesn't like it at all!)

[KnickerlessParsons]

Dishwater (Wales).

[ortonym]

@MassiveSalad22

Just asked DH who is from the other end of the country to me and he’s never heard ditchwater either!

I'm in the North of England. My dad was from the midlands and he always used ditchwater (when I say he "used" it, I mean he said it 😂). I shall do a straw poll in the pub tonight.

[MassiveSalad22]

Just asked DH who is from the other end of the country to me and he’s never heard ditchwater either!

[MassiveSalad22]

Wow never heard or seen or read ditchwater in this context before! Or any context probably. But I am clearly in the minority along with The Chase 😄

[KangarooKenny]

Ditch water. Never heard anything else used.

[ortonym]

General consensus is "ditchwater", which is what I've always used - although I've heard both. What prompted me to ask is that there was a question on The Chase UK:
"Someone who is boring is said to be as what as dishwater?".
I wondered if this had become the norm.

[Findyourneutralspace]

Its ditchwater, but I suspect dishwater may be duller

[CavalierApproach]

Dull as ditchwater, but I’ve also seen references to “dishwater” (weak) tea.

[DramaAlpaca]

It's ditchwater. At least it was originally.

[FurryDandelionSeekingMissile]

I've only ever heard dishwater IRL, though in books I'm sure I've seen ditchwater.

My dishwater can be quite exciting, though. Never quite sure what DP might have set to lurk in there. Gelatinous spaghetti monster with a heart of sharpened steel? Delicate double-walled glass wedged beneath a 2kg skillet and decorated with wafts of partially-disintegrated jam jar label? You never know what you might find.

[user764329056]

Always ditchwater

[Tessisme]

Definitely ditchwater!

[WandaWonder]

I think I always heard dishwater but now not so sure

[Pixiedust1234]

It's ditchwater.

I hadn't heard of dish water until mid twenties as it was/is generally referred to as washing up water. Dishwater is from adult books (as opposed to children), and not real life discussions.

[Soozikinzii]

Only ever heard Ditchwater up here in Wigan .

[SproutsLCerVEGNoEgg]

Grew up with 'dishwater' but I suspect the correct version is ditchwater.

[Willowkins]

Ditchwater but I'm a pedant too. I seem to remember my DDad sometimes saying his tea was like dishwater, meaning it was too weak.

[RedDiamond]

Ditchwater

[waynesworldpartytimeexcellent]

Ditchwater