Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations
물 먹다 Mul meokda
To suffer a sudden, bitter rejection or disqualification despite your preparation.
What does 물 먹다 mean?
물 먹다 (Mul meokda) means: To suffer a sudden, bitter rejection or disqualification despite your preparation.
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How it's actually used
- 이번 대기업 공채 또 떨어졌어. 완전히 물 먹었지 뭐.
i-beon dae-gi-eop gong-chae tto tteo-jyeosseo. wan-jeon-hi mul meogeot-ji mwo.
I failed the major corporate open recruitment again. Totally got screwed over, you know.
💡 Shows how casually people vent about major professional setbacks with this phrase. - 면접 분위기 좋았는데, 설마 물 먹겠어?
myeon-jeop bun-wi-gi jo-wat-neunde, seol-ma mul meok-gesseo?
The interview vibe was great, surely I won't get rejected, right?
💡 Captures the nervous denial right before finding out you failed. - 열심히 준비한 자격증 시험에서 또 물을 먹고 나니까 정신이 번쩍 들더라.
yeol-sim-hi jun-bi-han ja-gyeok-jeung si-heom-eseo tto mureul meok-go na-ni-kka jeong-sin-i beon-jjeok deul-deora.
After failing that certification exam I studied so hard for yet again, it really woke me up.
💡 Demonstrates the bruised ego and sudden reality check that follows a failure.
Related words in Social Situations
눈에 불을 켜다 Nun-e bul-eul kyeoda눈에 익다 Nun-e ikda눈에 띄다 Nun-e tti-da눈이 높다 nun-i nopda눈독을 들이다 Nundog-eul deurida