hold water

1. To seem logical and consistent: “At first I was persuaded by the politician's speech, but upon reflection, I decided her arguments didn't hold water.”

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

Higher temperatures enhance the atmosphere’s capacity to hold water vapor, increasing the quantities of moisture evaporating off the landscape.

From Los Angeles Times

That stopped holding water once Trump came into office and declared certain types of Americans to be unequal – those pesky “enemies from within” — and some to be more equal than others.

From Salon

Officials are hoping to eradicate local reservoirs of dengue by reducing mosquito populations and eliminating possible breeding sites, namely containers that hold water.

From Los Angeles Times

He also said he wasn’t convinced the attempted murder charge would “hold water at the end of the day.”

From Los Angeles Times

The appeals court on Wednesday upheld a prior ruling by a probate court that Katherine Jackson’s objections to the transaction do not hold water.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• stick