Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Don't stir up trouble that has settled down.
Origin: Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde (c. 1385) warns that it is no good to wake a sleeping hound. The modern "let sleeping dogs lie" became standard in the 19th century, and Walter Scott used it in his novel Redgauntlet (1824). The advice is to leave a quiet problem alone rather than stir it up.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Ne réveillez pas le chat qui dort (literally: Don't wake the sleeping cat)
- Spanish: Mejor no menear el avispero (literally: Better not to stir the wasp's nest)
- Japanese: 寝た子を起こすな (Neta ko wo okosu na) (literally: Don't wake the sleeping child)
- German: Schlafende Hunde soll man nicht wecken (literally: One should not wake sleeping dogs)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away — Regular healthy habits prevent illness.
- There's method in the madness — Apparent chaos may have an underlying purpose.
- The devil is in the details — Small details can cause major problems.
- All good things must come to an end — Nothing pleasant lasts forever.
- Half a loaf is better than none — Something is better than nothing.
- Don't reinvent the wheel — Don't waste effort on solved problems.
From our false friends
- Lectura — Actually means 'reading'. A lecture is una conferencia.
- Compromiso — Actually means 'commitment', 'obligation', or 'engagement'. For a negotiated compromise,…
- Gracioso — Actually means 'funny' or 'amusing'. For gracious (kind and polite), say amable.