upset the apple cart
Ruin the arrangement
To upset the apple cart is to disrupt a stable situation or spoil carefully made plans.
The image is of toppling a vendor's cart and scattering the merchandise—a small action with messy consequences.
Everything was going smoothly until his resignation upset the apple cart.
Often used with warnings: Don't upset the apple cart.
- disruptInterrupt and disorder
- cause a stirCreate noticeable commotion
- thwartPrevent success of
- foilDefeat a plan
- shakeTrembling or blended treat
rock the boat · ruffle feathers · domino effect · overturn · turn the tables · scuttle · stir the pot · sabotage · wreak havoc · make waves · muddy the waters · check · spoil · rain on parade · derail · jeopardize · break the mold · defeat
- making troublemake waves, stir the pot, raise Cain, kick up a fuss, ruffle feathers
- Cause a stirmake waves, rock the boat, stir the pot, raise eyebrows, ruffle feathers
- chaos idiomsall hell breaks loose, pandemonium, madhouse, circus, bedlam
upset the apple cartleave well enough alone
Avoid unnecessary interference
let sleeping dogs lie · keep the peace · steady the ship · stay the course · play it safe
upset the apple cartgo along to get along
Conform to preserve relationships
play ball · toe the line · color inside the lines · play by the rules · go with the flow
upset the apple cartright the ship
Restore proper function
pick up the pieces · set things right · steady the ship · calm the waters · patch things up
upset, apple, apples, carted, carting, carter, upsetting, upsets