hold water

hold water
verb
resist or withstand wear, criticism, etc.
-

Her shoes won't hold up

-

This theory won't hold water

• Syn: ↑stand up, ↑hold up
• Hypernyms:
↑survive, ↑last, ↑live, ↑live on, ↑go, ↑endure, ↑hold up, ↑hold out
• Verb Frames:
-

Something ——s

* * *

BE TENABLE, ring true, bear scrutiny, make sense, stand up, hold up, be convincing, be plausible, be sound.
→ water

* * *

phrasal
1.
a. : to retain water without leaking
b. : to be whole, consistent, or valid : stand up under criticism or analysis

an accusation which would hold water in a court of law — Michael Howard

an explanation that would not hold water if the true facts were known

2. : to hold oars steady in the water usually at right angles to the direction of movement to check headway

* * *

hold water see under ↑water
• • •
Main Entry: ↑hold
————————
hold water
(of an argument, etc) to be correct or well-grounded, to bear examination
• • •
Main Entry: ↑water

* * *

[often with negative] (of a statement, theory, or line of reasoning) appear to be valid, sound, or reasonable

this argument just does not hold water

* * *

hold water — see ↑water, 1
• • •
Main Entry: ↑hold
————————
hold water
informal : to be possible or believable
— usually used in negative statements

Her argument doesn't hold water. [=does not make sense]

His theory cannot hold water. [=his theory is wrong]

• • •
Main Entry: ↑water

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • hold water — When you say that something does or does not hold water , it means that the point of view or argument put forward is or is not sound, strong or logical. For e.g., Saying we should increase our interest rates because everyone else is doing so will …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • hold water — ► hold water (of a theory) appear sound. Main Entry: ↑water …   English terms dictionary

  • hold water — (not) hold water if an opinion or a statement does not hold water, it can be shown to be wrong. Most of the arguments put forward by our opponents simply do not hold water …   New idioms dictionary

  • hold water — (not) hold water if an opinion or a statement does not hold water, it can be shown to be wrong. If his theory holds water, it could be a breakthrough in cancer research …   New idioms dictionary

  • hold water — See water your story just doesn t hold water Syn: be tenable, ring true, bear scrutiny, make sense, stand up, hold up, be convincing, be plausible, be sound …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • hold water — {v. phr.} 1. To keep water without leaking. * /That pail still holds water./ 2. {informal} To prove true; stand testing; bear examination. Usually used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. * /Ernest told the police a story that… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hold water — {v. phr.} 1. To keep water without leaking. * /That pail still holds water./ 2. {informal} To prove true; stand testing; bear examination. Usually used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. * /Ernest told the police a story that… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hold\ water — v. phr. 1. To keep water without leaking. That pail still holds water. 2. informal To prove true; stand testing; bear examination. Usually used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. Ernest told the police a story that wouldn t… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • hold water — tv. [for an idea, plan, etc.] to survive evaluation or scrutiny. □ Nothing you’ve said so far holds water. □ Her story doesn’t hold water …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • hold water — verb 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 wont hold water …   Wiktionary

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