ProverbChallenge
English origin16th c.
English origin16th c.It's good fishing in troubled waters.
Meaning: Exploiting chaos and confusion allows cunning people to gain unfair advantages over others.
Origin: Fishermen knew that fish are easier to catch when the water is stirred up and they cannot see the net. The proverb, in English from the 16th century, describes people who profit from confusion and trouble.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Italian, and 5 more languages
French: Il fait bon pêcher en eau trouble (literally: It's good to fish in troubled water)
Spanish: A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores (literally: In a troubled river, fishermen gain)
Japanese: 漁夫の利 (Gyofu no ri) (literally: The fisherman's profit)
German: Im Trüben fischen (literally: To fish in the murk)
Italian: Pescare nel torbido (literally: To fish in murky water)
Dutch: In troebel water is het goed vissen (literally: It's good fishing in murky water)
Russian: Ловить рыбу в мутной воде (Lovit' rybu v mutnoy vode) (literally: To fish in muddy water)
Polish: Łowić ryby w mętnej wodzie (literally: To fish in murky water)
Chinese: 浑水摸鱼 (Hún shuǐ mō yú) (literally: Groping for fish in muddy water)
Arabic: يصطاد في الماء العكر (Yaṣṭād fī al-māʾ al-ʿakir) (literally: He fishes in murky water)
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