poked the bear
Stirred up danger
Poked the bear is the past tense of poke the bear, meaning to provoke someone or something that was better left alone.
The image is of disturbing a dangerous animal that might have ignored you otherwise: I knew criticizing her cooking would be poking the bear, but I couldn't help myself.
Often used to describe deliberate provocation or warn against it.
- stirred the potIntentionally provoked discord
- provokedCaused a reaction
- antagonizedActively turned against
- incitedUrged toward action
- interferedObstructed or meddled
disrupted · pushed too far · challenged · meddled · tempting fate · crossed the line · played with fire · added fuel to the fire · aggravated · asked for trouble · irritation · rage · frustration · fury · riled up · hostility · resentment · annoyance
poked the bearlet sleeping dogs lie
Avoid rekindling dormant issues
poured oil on troubled waters · bit one's tongue · kept one's head down · kept the peace · backed off
poked the bearplayed it safe
Acted to minimize risk
erred on the side of caution · hedged one's bets · stayed in one's lane · kept one's powder dry · bided one's time
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