| Idiom | Let Sleeping Dogs Lie |
|---|---|
| Example | Don't remind the director that you missed two rehearsals. Better to let sleeping dogs lie. |
| Meaning | to not make trouble if you don't have to; to not make someone angry by stirring up trouble |
| Origin | This well-known proverb was used by many people in the 1200s. English writer Geoffrey Chaucer used it in one of his books in 1374, saying it was not good to wake a sleeping dog. Imagine that you come upon a sleeping dog. Since you don't know what will happen if you wake it up (it may pounce on you and bite you!), it would be much smarter to just let the hound dream on. In the same way, if right now everything is calm, it's better not to stir up anything that could cause trouble or danger. Leave well enough alone! |
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