Let sleeping dogs lie

Definition

To avoid interfering with a situation that is currently calm or stable, even if it's not ideal, because stirring it up might make things worse.

Etymology

This proverb dates back to the 14th century and appears in Geoffrey Chaucer's works. The wisdom comes from the practical observation that waking a sleeping dog might result in getting bitten, making it better to leave peaceful situations undisturbed. The phrase has remained virtually unchanged for over 600 years.

Kelly Says

This is one of the oldest pieces of conflict-avoidance wisdom in English, and its longevity speaks to a fundamental truth about human nature - sometimes the cure really is worse than the disease. The canine metaphor is perfect because everyone understands the unpredictability of a suddenly awakened dog.

Translations

ARالعربية
لا تُوقِظ الكلاب النائمة
lā tūqīẓ al-kilāb al-nāʾima
CSČeština
nerušit spící psy
nɛruʃɪt spɪtɕi psi
DADansk
væk ikke sovende hunde
vɛg ɪtɡə sɔvəndə hundə
DEDeutsch
schlafende Hunde nicht wecken
ʃlaːfəndə ˈhʊndə ˈniːt ˈvɛkn
ELΕλληνικά
μην ξυπνάτε τους κοιμώμενους σκύλους
min ksipnate tus koimomenus skilus
ESEspañol
no despertar a los perros que duermen
no despeɾˈtaɾ a los ˈperos ke ˈduɛrmen
FISuomi
älä herätä nukkuvia koiria
ælæ herætæ nukkuvia koiria
FRFrançais
laisser les chiens dormir
lɛsɛ lɛ ʃjɛ̃ dɔʁmɪʁ
HEעברית
אל תעורר כלבים ישנים
al taʿorér kalbim yeshanim
HIहिन्दी
सो रहे कुत्तों को न जगाएं
so rahe kutton ko na jagāẽ
HUMagyar
ne ébreszd fel az alvó kutyákat
nɛ ɛbreʃd fel az alvoː kutjaːkat
IDBahasa Indonesia
jangan bangunkan anjing yang sedang tidur
dʒaŋan baŋunkan anjing jang sɛdaŋ tidur
ITItaliano
non svegliare cani che dormono
non sveʎˈʎaːre ˈkaːni ke dorˈmoːno
JA日本語
眠る犬にさわるな
nemuru inu ni sawaru na
KO한국어
자는 개를 건드리지 마라
janeun gae-reul geondeulji ma-ra
NLNederlands
slaapende honden niet wakker maken
slɑːpəndə ˈhɔndən nit ˈʋaːkər ˈmaːkən
NONorsk
våkn ikke sovende hunder
vɔkn ɪtɡɛ sɔvəndə hundər
PLPolski
nie budź śpiących psów
ɲɛ ˈbud͡ʑ ɕˈpʲɔw̃t͡ʂɨx psuf
PTPortuguês
não acordar cães que dormem
nɐ̃w ɐkɔʁˈdaʁ sɐ̃wz ki ˈdɔʁmẽj
RORomână
nu trezi câinii care dorm
nu trezi kɛjnj kɛre dorm
RUРусский
не будить спящих собак
nʲɛ ˈbudʲitʲ ˈspʲaɕɪx sɐˈbak
SVSvenska
väck inte sovande hundar
vɛk ɪntɛ sɔvandɛ hʉndar
THไทย
อย่าปลุกหมาที่นอน
jàa plùk ma thîi nɔɔn
TRTürkçe
uyuyan köpekleri uyandırmayın
uyuyan kɔpekleri uyandɯrmayɯn
UKУкраїнська
не будіть сплячих собак
nʲe budıtʹ spljaxix sobak
VITiếng Việt
đừng làm phiền chó đang ngủ
đừng làm phiền chó đang ngủ
ZH中文
不要打扰睡着的狗
bú yào dǎ rǎo shuì zhù de gǒu

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