hold (one's) water
(redirected from hold their water)
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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.
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!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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]
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.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.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
hold water
tv. [for an idea, plan, etc.] to survive evaluation or scrutiny. Nothing you’ve said so far holds water.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
hold water
To stand up to critical examination: Your explanation doesn't 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.