hold water en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Possibly from Jeremiah 2:13.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To withstand scrutiny or criticism; to be valid.
"Young man," he said, "upon this point I can only say that your story is grossly improbable. It won't hold water."
1888, Horatio Alger, chapter 35, in The Errand Boy:So the argument that we can keep them ‘addicted’ holds no water. They want American chips right now for one simple reason: They are behind in the A.I. race and this will help them catch up while they build their own chip capabilities.
2025 December 9, David E. Sanger, quoting Jake Sullivan, “Trump’s Nvidia Chip Deal Reverses Decades of Technology Restrictions”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:At the parlay, Tyrion also tries to claim Tywin’s murder was self-defense, which holds some water, and despite Jaime’s anger, I suspect he can see it from that side.
2017 August 13, Brandon Nowalk, “Oldtown offers one last game-changing secret as Game Of Thrones goes behind enemy lines (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| holding water | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| held water | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| held water | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| holds water | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Relateds
watertight · hold up · hold one's water
Translations (23)
ru выде́рживать критику (withstand scrutiny) · hu helyes (withstand scrutiny) · hu tartható (withstand scrutiny) · da holde vand (withstand scrutiny) · cmn 站得住腳 /站得住脚 (withstand scrutiny) · he החזיק מים (withstand scrutiny) · fi olla vedenpitävä (withstand scrutiny) · hu megállja a helyét (withstand scrutiny) · hu hiteles (withstand scrutiny) · sh držati vodu (withstand scrutiny) · hu helytálló (withstand scrutiny) · it reggere il confronto (withstand scrutiny) · cmn 站得住 (withstand scrutiny) · it reggere un ipotesi (withstand scrutiny) · cmn 成立 (withstand scrutiny) · fi pitää vettä (withstand scrutiny) · sh држати воду (withstand scrutiny) · pl trzymać się kupy (withstand scrutiny) · fr tenir la route (withstand scrutiny) · fi kestää tarkastelua (withstand scrutiny) · hu megáll (withstand scrutiny) · nl hout snijden (withstand scrutiny) · nl steek houden (withstand scrutiny)