滴水不漏

dīshuǐbùlòu
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 not a drop of water leaks out
  2. 2 watertight, airtight
  3. 3 meticulously thorough and leaving no loophole

Examples

Tā de huídá dīshuǐbùlòu, ràng duìfāng tiāo bù chū rènhé máobing.
His answer was airtight — the other side couldn't find a single fault.
Ānbǎo gōngzuò zuò de dīshuǐbùlòu, méi yǒu yì diǎn shūhu.
The security work was watertight, without the slightest lapse.
Zhè wèi lǜshī biànhù dīshuǐbùlòu, zuìzhōng yíngdé le guānsi.
The lawyer's defense was airtight and ultimately won the case.

Tips

history
Traced to the Song-era 《·》: 要说 — 'one must speak so tightly that there is no crack, holding water without leaking.' Originally about rigorous argument; now applied broadly to airtight work.
usage
Praise for arguments, alibis, security, plans, and accounts that leave no gap. Can also describe someone holding money so tightly they never let a cent slip away — context determines which sense.

Stroke Order

shuǐ
lòu