[Idiom] NOT HOLD WATER. - Evaluating the Strength of Arguments Effectively
Not hold water.
Lacks credibility or can't be proven.
The phrase "not hold water" is used when an argument, statement, or theory fails to be convincing or lacks supporting evidence. It essentially means that the explanation or reasoning can't withstand scrutiny or logical assessment, much like a container that cannot hold water due to leaks.
Example Sentences
Their argument doesn’t hold water with me.
Their argument is not convincing to me.
Those excuses won’t hold water in court.
Those excuses will not be convincing in a court of law.
The theory he proposed simply does not hold water under scrutiny.
The theory he proposed is not convincing when examined closely.