leak like a sieve
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To be very leaky.
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “leak like a sieve” mean?
To be very leaky.
Is “leak like a sieve” formal or informal?
leak like a sieve is generally informal.