IdiomDaily LifeEnglish

rock the boat

Meaning: To disrupt the status quo or challenge established conventions and rules.

Example: “Everyone agreed with the boss because nobody wanted to rock the boat.”

Origin: The image of physical movement that might tip over a small boat, representing any action that destabilizes a delicate situation.

More idioms — Daily Life

  • above the salt Of high social rank, importance, or honor.
  • break the mold To abandon convention and do something radically new or different.
  • hoist by one's own petard To be harmed or destroyed by one's own trap or scheme meant to injure someone else.
  • ace up one's sleeve A hidden advantage or secret resource kept in reserve to use when needed.
  • old fogey An elderly person with old-fashioned or reactionary views.
  • bash into shape To shape, repair, or train something or someone by vigorous, rough, or direct methods.

More English idioms

  • body English Subtle body movements a person makes to coax a moving object toward a desired direction,…
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  • sleep with the fishes To be dead, with one's body disposed of in the ocean or a large body of water.
  • Augean stables An extremely filthy, corrupt, or morally decayed place or situation that seems impossible…
  • on eternal patrol Lost or missing at sea, presumed dead.
  • play with house money To take risks when one has nothing personal to lose, or to act recklessly because the sta…

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