hold water, to
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.
hold water, to
To bear close inspection; to be valid. This expression, used since about 1600, refers to the soundness of a container that holds water without leaking. “Let them produce a more rational account . . . that will hold water,” wrote John French (The Yorkshire Spaw, 1626).
See also: hold
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer