describing lake as lukewarm

[alpacinou]

Can I describe lake water as lukewarm or is it for things like coffee?

I was floating in the lake, the water lukewarm against my cheeks, filling my nose and throat at points.

 

[jutfrank]

I'd say no and yes. Just describe it as 'warm' and that'll do.

at points isn't right, by the way. And do you really mean it was filling your nose and throat? :shock:

 

[Tarheel]

If the water is filling your nose and throat you have a serious problem. You're drowning!

 

[alpacinou]

I'd say no and yes. Just describe it as 'warm' and that'll do.

at points isn't right, by the way. And do you really mean it was filling your nose and throat? :shock:

What about tepid? What can I say instead of "at points" and "fill"?

 

[emsr2d2]

If the water is so unremarkably tepid, why remark on it at all? I can understand why you might want to mention water that's absolutely freezing, or incredibly warm, but if it's lukewarm/tepid, I can't really see what you gain by describing it.

 

[Tdol]

Do you want to be negative about the lake?

 

[Bassim]

I believe you could rewrite your sentence in this way.

I enjoyed the caress of lukewarm waves on my skin as I was floating in the lake.

I am not a teacher or a native speaker.

 

[Yankee]

I believe you could rewrite your sentence in this way.

I enjoyed the caress of lukewarm waves on my skin as I was floating in the lake.

Hmm. Where is this lake? :shock:

 

[Bassim]

Yankee,
I don't understand what is wrong with my version. Should it be "a lake"?

 

[Yankee]

Yankee,
I don't understand what is wrong with my version. Should it be "a lake"?

Nothing wrong with your version. My attempt at humor.

 

[Skrej]

The problem is that we normally think of lukewarm and tepid as negative terms for something we would expect to be hot or at least pleasantly warm.

There's even a reference to lukewarm water in the Bible, found in Revelations 3:16.
"So because you are like lukewarm water, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

Your sentences sound like you were expecting the water to be hot and are disappointed to find it not so.

Now perhaps if you discovered your favorite hot springs had lost their warmth, then the sentence would work.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Yankee,
I don't understand what is wrong with my version. . . .

Nothing. Yankee wants a date with the lake!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

As others have pointed out above, lukewarm isn't just a temperature. It also means indifferent, dull, lackluster. So if you were enjoying the lake water, it's not a great word choice.