English Idiom – Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning – This idiomatic expression means you should leave something alone if it might cause trouble. This idiom advises you to leave inactive problems alone. To have nothing to do with a situation.
This idiom is commonly given as advice to someone who may be about to instigate some kind of trouble or cause a problem.
The words in this idiom – let sleeping dogs lie – let the listener imagine there is a ferocious or scary dog sleeping. They are being advised not to wake this dangerous dog!
Related Expressions:
- A little bird told me – Idiom
- Elephant in the room – Idiom
- Let the cat out of the bag – Idiom
- Put a sock in it – Idiom
- Spill the beans – Idiom
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- Somebody is asking you about some controversial gossip – and you don’t want to be involved.
- A friend wants to ask a colleague about a particularly messy breakup.
- You are trying to avoid talking about the elephant in the room!
Example:
- “Don’t ask him about his divorce. It’s best to let sleeping dogs lie!”
In The News:
Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie, Or How I Found My Family in China
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Discuss:
- Is there an idiom like this in your country?
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.