sleeping dogs lie

Meaning

1. 1phraseidiominformal

   To avoid bringing up an old problem or disagreement because doing so might cause fresh trouble.

   Grammar: Often used as advice or a decision: we should let sleeping dogs lie.

   Patterns

   • let sleeping dogs lie

   The two brothers finally stopped arguing about the will, so I think we should let sleeping dogs lie.

   I wanted to ask her about the old mistake, but my friend told me to let sleeping dogs lie.

   The team is calm now; it is better to let sleeping dogs lie than to reopen the debate.

Common combinations

decide to let sleeping dogs lie

After a long talk, we decided to let sleeping dogs lie.

better to let sleeping dogs lie

It is better to let sleeping dogs lie than to start another fight.

advise someone to let sleeping dogs lie

My lawyer advised me to let sleeping dogs lie.

prefer to let sleeping dogs lie

She preferred to let sleeping dogs lie rather than confront him.

Synonyms and how they differ

leave well enough alone

This is a close match but focuses on not improving something that is already acceptable, rather than on avoiding trouble.

drop it

Drop it is blunt and informal and can be an order, while let sleeping dogs lie is a gentler, proverb-like suggestion.

let it go

Let it go is about releasing anger or a grudge, while let sleeping dogs lie is about avoiding a fresh conflict.

Opposites

Word family

sleeping dog noun

a problem that is quiet for now

lie verb

to rest in a flat position

Commonly confused: sleeping dogs lie or let it lie?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sleeping dogs lie”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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