intransitive. To be or remain valid or in force; to apply, to hold true.

To be or remain valid; to subsist; to be in force; to apply. Also to hold good, to hold true.

figurative. to hold out water: to be or stay sound or valid against examination or scrutiny. Cf. hold water at hold, v. 32b. Obsolete.

figurative. to run on (also upon) all fours: to proceed smoothly; to function effectively; to succeed compatibly with.

hold water. To retain water, not to let water through or out (sense 5): hence, figurative. To be sound, valid, or tenable; to bear a test or…

Phrase, to pass for (later as) sterling. Chiefly figurative. Also, to allow, mark for sterling.

intransitive. figurative. With adverbial complement: to impress as having a certain character; to convey a specified impression or inherent…