lets sleeping dogs lie
Doesn't provoke conflict
To let sleeping dogs lie is to avoid stirring up trouble by leaving a sensitive matter alone.
The image is of not disturbing a dog that might bite if awakened.
The advice applies when raising an old grievance or buried secret would cause more harm than good: I thought about confronting him, but decided to let sleeping dogs lie.
- turn a blind eyeDeliberately ignore something obvious
- bury the hatchetEnd hostilities formally
- de-escalationReducing conflict intensity
- let bygones be bygonesRelease past resentments mutually
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
hold your tongue · bite your tongue · diplomacy · pick your battles · avoidance · sit tight · compromise · play it safe · cool your jets · leave well enough alone · leave it alone · don't rock the boat · patience · like a bull in a china shop · negotiation · silence · keep your head down · appeasement
lets sleeping dogs lierocks the boat
Disturbs an established situation
lets sleeping dogs liestirs the pot
Deliberately provokes conflict
plays with fire · looks for trouble · fans the flames · pokes the bear · asks for trouble
letting, sleep, sleeps, sleeping, sleeper, sleepers, sleepy, sleepily, sleepiness