1. An early sailing term, from which the term the "hold" of a ship is derived. A ship was said to be sound and seaworthy if the hull could hold water.
2. An army term, referring to the depth that could be safely reached by a submarine. A sub that could hold good water was considered particularly sound.
3. In this phrase, water refers to liquor. Anybody who could hold their water could consume great quantities of liquor without appearing drunk.
4. High quality tea from Ceylon was highly valued for its intense flavor. Thus a small amount of tea could be used for large quantities of water; the tea cold "hold water."
5. This phrase dates back to the early seventeenth century when it referred to a clay pot that did not leak.
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Paddle your own canoe (to be independent)
1. When Lewis and Clark were recruiting men for their Discovery Corps, one of the requirements was independence and the ability to paddle one's own canoe.
2. From an 1854 song by Dr. Edward Philpots:
Voyager upon life's sea:
To yourself be true,
And whatever your lot may be
Paddle your own canoe.
3. An Mandan Indian phrase, referring to young Indian men who did not yet have a wife and family, thus they paddled solo along the Mississippi.
4. From the Polynesian custom, in which a young man was not allowed to leave home and build his own hut unless he could successfully launch a canoe through the surf.
