hold water

hold (one's) water

1. To refrain from urinating. Can you please try to hold your water a bit longer? There is a rest stop not too far from here. We just transitioned our daughter out of diapers, and she's having a very hard time holding her water so far.
2. To be calm or patient; to stop making pressing demands, requests, or solicitations. Janet needs to hold her water and just let the committee do its job. You kids hold your water back there or I swear I'll turn this car right around!
See also: hold, water
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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]
See also: hold, water
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

hold water

(of a statement, theory, or line of reasoning) appear to be valid, sound, or reasonable.
See also: hold, water
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

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.
See also: hold, water
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

hold water

tv. [for an idea, plan, etc.] to survive evaluation or scrutiny. Nothing you’ve said so far holds water.
See also: hold, water
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

hold water

To stand up to critical examination: Your explanation doesn't hold water.
See also: hold, water
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

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
See also:
  • hold (one's) water
  • can't hold it (in)
  • not able to hold it (in)
  • not able to wait
  • keep off (of) (one's) case
  • keep still
  • keep still (about something)
  • hold one's tongue, to
  • abstain
  • keep out from under feet
References in periodicals archive
They didn't tell us nothing and we didn't think nothing." That story doesn't hold water.
Likely story from drug charge girls
Which leaves one to wonder: The money spends the same, but does winning a duck calling contest hold water with the admissions office?
There's a scholarship for that?
Lib Dem Norman Baker, who has conducted his own eight-month investigation, said the Hutton Inquiry's finding that Dr Kelly committed suicide did not "hold water".
Kelly 'must have been murdered'
10 several times, as have others, I hope this one might hold water if others sign it.
Letter: Sign the petition
MAKE a depression around newly planted specimens, which will act as a basin and hold water m ore efficiently- George Asher, Matlock, Derbys
FERNERY FINERY; DESIGN IT
It is the space in a vessel that enables it to hold water, just as it is the space within our heart that allows spirit to enter.
Heaven and earth: the ancient roots of Chinese medicine
Depressions in the surface of the land that hold water might have been formed by glaciation and subsequently fed by surface runoff and springs beneath.
"They all went down to Am-ster--!" Building principles
When a tub drain won't hold water or the finish looks bad, the usual fix is to replace it.
No-fuss coverup for old tub drains
In a letter to constituents on the issue, Obama explained that while he agrees with Feingold that the President "exceeded his authority with his domestic wiretapping program," and furthermore, that the Administration's justifications don't hold water, he doesn't support censure.
What about censure?
Backfill the hole with soil and make a ring of dirt around the tree to help hold water.
Help for gulf coast trees
If [the pot is] to hold water, then you need one that has been high-fired--the higher the temperature of the kiln, the more sealed the clay.
Potted pleasures: Patricia Carpenter unearths great international designs
His excuse that he didn't get a good view of the tackle simply doesn't hold water. He saw enough to show a yellow card.
Football Echo: Your Shout: Are refs banned from using their commonsense?
More than 90 per cent of Haiti's trees have been chopped down, leaving nothing to hold water back from low-lying towns.
Hundreds are killed by storms in Haiti
In my view, the idea of putting the Fourth Grace on the old Cammell Laird site does not hold water, mainly on the grounds of cost.
Letter: Another site for the Cloud
Applying compost to your garden adds helpful nutrients to the soil, guards against diseases and pests, can enhance soil's ability to hold water and air and may even extend plants' growing season.
Calling all composters: it's cool and it's hot