ProverbWisdomPolish origin

Nie wywołuj wilka z lasu

Meaning: Don't stir up trouble by talking about it or provoking it.

Literally: Don't call the wolf out of the forest

Example: “Nie wspominaj szefowi o nadgodzinach. Nie wywołuj wilka z lasu.” — Don't mention the overtime to the boss: let sleeping dogs lie.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, 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)
  • 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)
  • 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)

Origin: Speak of the wolf, or call it out of the forest, and it comes.

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