pours oil on troubled waters
Smooths things over
Pours oil on troubled waters means to do something that calms a tense or difficult situation: she pours oil on troubled waters by mediating the dispute.
- pacifyingCalming someone agitated
- comfortingGiving emotional ease
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- tactfulnessSkill in sensitive situations
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
diplomatic solution · reconciliation · clear the air · bury the hatchet · de-escalation · compromise · peacemaking · keep the peace · consensus-building · conflict management · idiom · bridge-building · build bridges · consoling · olive branch · metaphor · reassuring · placating
pours oil on troubled watersfans the flames
Intensifies existing conflict
adds fuel to the fire · pours gasoline on the fire · stirs the pot · makes waves · rocks the boat
pours oil on troubled watersturns up the heat
Increases intensity or pressure
pour, poured, pouring, pours, oil, oils, oiled, oiling, oily