don't make waves
Keep things calm
Don't make waves means to avoid causing trouble or disrupting an established situation.
The expression comes from the image of keeping water calm—someone who makes waves disturbs the peace.
It's typically advice or a command to stay quiet rather than raise objections: Just do what they ask and don't make waves.
The opposite impulse appears in make waves, meaning to deliberately challenge the status quo.
- appeasementSatisfying demands to prevent conflict
- submissivenessDisposition to obey others
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- bite your tongueRefrain from speaking
- deflectionChange in trajectory
path of least resistance · stability · yielding · tradition · passivity · equilibrium · avoidance · inaction · de-escalation · discretion · inertia · tact · turn a blind eye · quietude · evasion · non-confrontational · peacekeeping · docility
don't make wavesrock the boat
Disturb a stable situation
stir the pot · make waves · ruffle feathers · cause a stir · upset the apple cart
don't make wavesspeak up
Talk louder or opine
stand your ground · fight back · speak out · push back · take a stand
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