Idiom · B1 · Informal · Social life
in the same boat
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Meaning
In the same difficult situation as other people.
Examples
- I can’t afford a flat either. We’re all in the same boat.
- Many students are in the same boat: they study and work at the same time.
- Don’t worry about the exam. We’re all in the same boat.
How to use it
Use it to comfort people or to show that a problem is shared. It is for difficult situations, not pleasant ones.
Common mistake
Not: We both won a prize, so we are in the same boat.
Say: We both won a prize, so we are in the same position. (The idiom is for problems.)
Last updated 20 October 2026