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Glite Dictionary
to fix a leak

to fix a leak

1 2.0
To repair a break in a pipe that lets water or gas out
  • phrasal verb
: arreglar una fuga
  • He called a plumber to fix a leak in the kitchen sink before it caused more water damage.

Examples

  • Had to put a new chain and sprocket set on it, adjust the valves, and fix a leak in the carb (he left an o-ring out of the accelerator pump).

    Blog text (32)

  • With thankfully the same story again for our ITX build, which is really good because it would have super sucked to empty both loops and fix a leak down there.

  • Fixing a leak would only take a day or two.

    1922 (2017)

  • This is just an average Joe trying to fix a leak in his own house without calling out a plumber.

  • If the seller agrees to fix a leak or complete some other repair, do not close on the home until the promise is met.

    Blog text (29)

  • Fixing a leak under your sink.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • He thinks he's fixing a leak.

    The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

  • Da Dao, the manager, left to fix a leak in the kitchen, so I stood at the window, idle, as the wind blew mittens and lost bus passes past my eyes.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • To save money, she decided to fix a leak in the garden hose instead of buying a new one.

  • You should learn how to fix a leak if you want to handle minor plumbing issues in your home.

Synonyms

to patch
vsto fix a leak
151 2.5

To repair a hole or damaged area by adding a piece of material

repairs situations where liquid or gas escape rather than only covering openings
to patch up
vsto fix a leak
20 3.4

Mend a hole or tear by putting a piece of material over it

permanently stops escaping liquid or gas rather than just covering damage
to caulk
vsto fix a leak
  • Specialized
6 6.7

To fill a gap with waterproof material to stop water or air coming in

stops escaping liquid or gas from pipes or containers rather than sealing seams

How Repaired

to replace
∞ 1.8
to seal
457 2.5
to fix a leak
1 2.0
to patch
151 2.5
plug
50 1.5

Surface Forms

fix a leak infinitive
fixed a leak past
fixed a leak past participle
fixing a leak present participle
fixes a leak third person singular

Morphology

fix + a + leak

The meaning 'to repair a crack or hole that allows liquid or gas to escape' is directly and transparently derived from 'fix' (to repair) plus 'leak' (an opening letting liquid/gas out); a B1 learner who knows those words will readily infer the phrase. The article 'a' is semantically neutral and the verb + noun composition is common cross-linguistically, so the expression is predictable and easily understood from its parts.

Etymology

Fix a leak shows a simple picture: someone uses tools to stop water coming out of a hole in a pipe, where fix means to repair and leak is the unwanted flow. That's why it means 'to repair a crack or hole that lets liquid or gas escape'.