spring a leak
Related to spring a leak: spring up
spring a leak
To suddenly begin leaking liquid or gas into or out of a vessel. The tire is already flat, even though I just pumped it back up—it must have sprung a leak. By the time we realized we had sprung a leak, there was already two feet of water at the bottom of the boat. If any of these containers spring a leak, it'll be very costly to repair.
See also: leak, spring
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
spring a leak
(of a boat or container) develop a leak.The expression was originally a nautical one, referring to the timbers of a wooden ship springing out of position and so letting in water.
See also: leak, spring
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
spring a ˈleak
(of a boat, roof, container, etc.) start to let water in: The boat sprang a leak halfway across the lake.See also: leak, spring
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
spring a leak
To starting leak a fluid suddenly: The boat sprang a leak. My balloon has sprung a leak.
See also: leak, spring
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- seep
- seep away
- take a leak
- take a leak, to
- have a leak
- flooey
- absorb (something) with (something)
- absorb with
- a race against time/the clock
- hard shoulder