hold one's water
To be patient; to control one's impulses.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Please hold your water until the meeting finishes.”
“The investors were eager to sell, but the manager told them to hold their water until the market improved.”
“Although the temptation to react to the provocative headline was immense, the editor advised his staff to hold their water until all the facts were verified.”
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026