Meaning & use
walk on water
Last updated
Meaning
phraseidiom
to be admired greatly for having exceptional abilities, often used in negative statements to say someone is not perfect
Grammar: Often used with can/could, especially in the negative: 'She can't walk on water.'
Patterns
- someone can/could walk on water
- someone can't/couldn't walk on water
The new manager is talented, but she can't walk on water.
After winning the championship, the coach was treated as if he could walk on water.
Don't expect him to walk on water—he's only human.
Common combinations
- can't walk on water
- He's good, but he can't walk on water.
- think someone can walk on water
- Her fans think she can walk on water.
- as if someone could walk on water
- They treat him as if he could walk on water.
Synonyms and how they differ
- be perfect
- Used in negative statements to say someone is not without faults; less idiomatic than 'walk on water'.
- be a genius
- Focuses on intelligence rather than overall admiration; 'walk on water' suggests almost miraculous ability.
Commonly confused: walk on water or walk on air?
walk on water vs walk on air
Means to feel extremely happy, not to be admired for ability.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'walk on water' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The idiom means to be admired for exceptional ability, often used with 'can'. The other options use it literally, which is not the idiomatic meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “walk on water”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.