spring a leak

spring a leak  {v. phr.}
1. To develop a hole (said of boats) through which water can enter, threatening the boat to sink.
When our small boat sprang a leak, we rapidly returned to shore to fix it.
2. To be threatened by some oncoming danger.
Our firm sprang a leak when the vice president suddenly died of a heart attack.
Categories: verb
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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