hold (one's) water

1. To refrain from urinating. Can you please try to hold your water a bit longer? There is a rest stop not too far from here. We just transitioned our daughter out of diapers, and she's having a very hard time holding her water so far. Though she managed to hold her water till we got home, once there, she immediately bolted for the bathroom.

2. To be calm or patient; to stop making pressing demands, requests, or solicitations. Janet needs to hold her water and just let the committee do its job. You kids hold your water back there or I swear I'll turn this car right around! If you'd just hold your water, I think the board would be more willing to help you.

See also: hold, water

hold water

To be or appear to be true, verifiable, or supported by facts; to be able to withstand scrutiny or critical examination. Likened to a vessel that does not have holes in it and thus will not leak water. Typically used in negative constructions. They want to investigate your claim to see if it holds water. I'm afraid that excuse just doesn't hold water—you still should have had plenty of time to complete the assignment and print it. Her explanation had too many inconsistencies and contradictions to hold water.

See also: hold, water

hold water

Stand up to critical examination, be sound and valid, as in This argument just won't hold water, or Her reasons for quitting don't hold water. This metaphoric expression alludes to a container that can hold water without leaking. [c. 1600]

See also: hold, water

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hold water

(of a statement, theory, or line of reasoning) appear to be valid, sound, or reasonable.

See also: hold, water

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

hold ˈwater

(informal) (of a theory, etc.) remain true even when examined closely: Your argument just doesn’t hold water.

If a container holds water, no water escapes.

See also: hold, water

hold water

tv. [for an idea, plan, etc.] to survive evaluation or scrutiny. Nothing you’ve said so far holds water.

See also: hold, water

hold water

To stand up to critical examination: Your explanation doesn't hold water.

See also: hold, water

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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