hold water

Cultural  

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.”

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hold water Idioms  

1. 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]

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Example Sentences

"There is little doubt that, in any case, the justification of an imminent attack on the US does not hold water," he added.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

“The argument doesn’t hold water, in my view,” says Joachim Klement, economist and strategist at Panmure Liberum, who believes the argument’s assumptions about consumer behavior are too narrow and flawed.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 16, 2026

It reaffirms that wetlands must actually touch jurisdictional waters and consistently hold water for minimum periods every year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

Water services are different, because the 'switch for a better deal' advice simply doesn't, ahem, hold water.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2025

We’d lost the distiller setup, the tarp, jugs, paddles, tools, rags, everything but the bloodstained sail, which was too worn and torn to hold water.

From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin

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