They can be a bit grumpy when they wake up.īye for now. So, if you see a dog sleeping, let him or her sleep. It seems like it was used in French even earlier in the 14th century, in Proverbia Vulgalia et Latina, where the saying is: “Ne reveillez pas le chien qui dort.” Translation: Do not wake the dog that sleeps. This stems from Geoffrey Chaucer’s poem Troilus and Criseyde, published in 1374. The original quote is `It is nought good a sleping hound to wake,'(sic). Where did ‘let sleeping dogs lie’ come from? While this sounds like a great idea, it’s not a very catchy way to say it, so I guess that’s why this idiom is so popular! In English, we will say ‘let sleeping dogs lie’ to mean that we should not disturb things that are calm or we should not pursue an argument that has been resolved already. However, if a dog is sleeping it is best to let him or her lie. Despite what many people will say, I don’t really have any problems with dogs. We all know that cats and dogs don’t always get along. However, once you get the hang of it, you will be using it more effectively and definitely more frequently.Hey guys, it’s Studycat here! I came across another odd English phrase today, ‘let sleeping dogs lie’. It is essential to understand exactly what this phrase means to accurately use and apply it in your writing and your conversations with people. The phrase “let sleeping dogs lie” has been used since the 1300s and is more relevant now in the present day than ever before. I really wanted to give her a piece of my mind, but then decided to instead let sleeping dogs lie.We already knew that we would come to no consensus on the matter, so we just decided to let sleeping dogs lie and not talk about it any longer.My boss didn’t ask me about coming late yesterday, so I didn’t explain myself either I thought it best to let sleeping dogs lie.Investigations into certain matters will definitely bring a lot of controversial issues to the surface, so the government in times gone by has agreed to let sleeping dogs lie.The two parties haven’t agreed on a way forward as yet however, they’ve resolved to let sleeping dogs lie.She figured it was best to let sleeping dogs lie. As Algernon was light-hearted in the morning, Denise chose to put aside their misunderstanding last night.Example Sentences with the Term “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie” It may imply that some negative situation is about to transpire or that one or more characters are about to get themselves into trouble.Ĭo-worker 2: Do you think it’s worth bringing it up at the risk of causing tension on the team?Ĭo-worker 1: No, it is actually a personal issue and not work-related.Ĭo-worker 2: Okay, well, it’s probably best that you let sleeping dogs lie. In fact, when the narrator makes use of this phrase, then it anticipates that something is coming. The term may be used in a story by a narrator as well. Let sleeping dogs lie- to ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult situation (. Lets look at the meaning of the given idiom. Synonyms for let sleeping dogs lie and translation. The meaning of the given idiom is Do not bring up an old controversial issue. The reader or audience is often more easily persuaded when an exchange between two characters in a story or book is more pragmatic. Let sleeping dogs lie Meaning of let sleeping dogs lie in the English dictionary with examples of use. This is why many writers integrate this phrase into their dialogue. Mess with The Use of “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie” in WritingĪs is the case with all catchphrases, watchwords, and slogans, you may find this one in everyday speech with ease.Don’t trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.There are many terms and catchphrases that you can use instead of “let sleeping dogs lie.” Here are some of them: Other Ways to Say “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie”