spring a leak
Begin taking water
To spring a leak is to develop an opening that allows water or other fluid to escape—said of boats, pipes, containers, or anything meant to hold liquid: The boat sprang a leak two miles from shore.
Figuratively, organizations spring leaks when confidential information escapes: The White House sprang a leak, and reporters had the memo within hours.
- startTo set going
- sinking shipVessel filling with water
- take on waterFill with liquid through breach
- let slipReveal unintentionally
- fissureNarrow crack in rock
flooding · burst pipe · rupture · hull breach · spill the beans · corrosion · patching · breach · discharge · seepage · puncture · contamination · welding · sealing · equipment failure · water damage · caulking · material fatigue
spring a leakhold water
Be logically defensible
hold tight · hold together · airtight · hermetically sealed · shipshape
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