hold water

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"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

And in July a landmark review of the "failing" water sector in England and Wales recommended stronger regulation to hold water companies to account.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

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

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