ProverbWisdomJapanese origin

寝た子を起こすな (Neta ko wo okosu na)

Meaning: Don't stir up a problem that has settled down.

Literally: Don't wake the sleeping child

Example: “もう解決した問題だから、蒸し返さないで。寝た子を起こすなだよ。” — That problem is settled, so don't bring it up again: let sleeping dogs lie.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and 2 more languages

  • English: Let sleeping dogs lie
  • French: Il ne faut pas réveiller le chat qui dort (literally: One must not wake the sleeping cat)
  • Spanish: Mejor no menear el avispero (literally: Better not to stir the wasp's nest)
  • German: Schlafende Hunde soll man nicht wecken (literally: One should not wake sleeping dogs)
  • Italian: Non svegliare il can che dorme (literally: Don't wake the sleeping dog)
  • Dutch: Men moet geen slapende honden wakker maken (literally: One shouldn't wake sleeping dogs)
  • Polish: Nie wywołuj wilka z lasu (literally: Don't call the wolf out of the forest)

Origin: Anyone who has rocked a baby to sleep knows not to wake it again; English uses a sleeping dog instead.

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