stick your oar in
Meaning: to interfere in someone else's affairs; to meddle.
Language: English
Literally: to stick your oar in
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Comes from rowing, where the objection is practical rather than merely territorial. In a boat pulled by several oars, every blade has to enter and leave the water in time with the others; an extra oar, or one worked out of rhythm, does not add power but actively fouls the stroke and slows the whole crew. Meddling is therefore not just unwelcome but counterproductive, which is the precise complaint the idiom carries. The older English form makes the sense of habitual interference clearer still — to have an oar in every man's boat, recorded from the 1500s, described someone compelled to involve themselves in everybody's business at once.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Mettre son grain de sel — literally: To add one's grain of salt
- German: Seinen Senf dazugeben — literally: To add one's mustard
More idioms — Daily Life
- run rings around someone — to easily surpass someone; to be far superior in ability.
- get the ball rolling — to start something; to initiate a process.
- as tough as old boots — very strong; enduring; difficult to break.
- head honcho — the person in charge; the leader.
- get the short end of the stick — to receive unfair treatment; to get the worse deal.
- no love lost — mutual dislike; bad relations between people.
More English idioms
- lower your guard — to relax defenses; to become vulnerable.
- bring home the bacon — to provide income; to succeed in earning money.
- like a fish out of water — uncomfortable or awkward in a situation; out of one's element.
- come hell or high water — no matter what obstacles arise; with absolute determination.
- bury the hatchet — to make peace; to settle a dispute.
- a storm in a teacup — excessive fuss over something trivial; tempest in a teapot.
From our proverbs
- Even the tallest tower began with a single brick — Every great achievement starts with one humble first step.
- He conquers who endures — Persistence and endurance are the ultimate keys to victory.
- To lose patience is to lose the battle — Losing your composure under pressure ensures defeat; staying calm is essential to success.