Meanings
Possibly from the King James Version of Jeremiah 2:13: “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”
How to pronounce "hold water":
AU
To withstand scrutiny or criticism; to be valid.
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see hold, water.
Example Sentences
1
His explanation doesn't hold water; it's full of contradictions.
2
The defendant's alibi didn't hold water, so he was found guilty.
3
The theory presented by the scientist is interesting, but it doesn't hold water without substantial evidence.
4
The excuse she gave for being late doesn't hold water; we know she's lying.
5
The argument put forward by the opposition doesn't hold water when examined closely.