"胎死腹中" 如果用来比喻事情失败是不是翻译成dead in the water?

Dead in the water 可行.
"nip things in the bud"则带有“防范于未然”的意思,通常用在”坏事”上.
一件坏事被”nip in the bud”（如“Nip sin in the bud”）是好的,值得庆贺的.
“好事”不成的话,就不会用“nip in the bud”来形容的.
一件好事胎死腹中,用"dead in the water"（如：George's new company is dead in the water）就较为恰当.

是 “nip things in the bud”
这样更地道的
意思等同于“扼杀在萌芽状态”