The phrase ‘Let Sleeping Dogs Lie’ is used to warn against stirring up trouble. Example of Use: “It’s best to keep your opinion to yourself around him. Just let sleeping dogs lie.”
Full Answer
The origin of “Let sleeping dogs lie”. The origin of the phrase “let sleeping dogs lie” has its roots attached with dogs. Especially this idiom’s meaning has its attachment with “watchdogs’. The animal dog in the past and currently is being used as a security, as a messenger and it has various uses within security agencies.
Definition of let sleeping dogs lie. : to ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult situation I thought about bringing up my concerns but decided instead to let sleeping dogs lie.
'Let sleeping dogs lie' derives from the long-standing observation that dogs are often unpredictable when they are suddenly disturbed. Geoffrey Chaucer was one of the first to put this notion into print, in Troilus and Criseyde, circa 1380, although the belief itself may well be much older: "It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake."
Apr 13, 2020 · The idiom “let sleeping dogs lie” mean to leave a problem or avoid interfering in a situation/ an old argument because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult situation. So, just like avoiding waking up a dog and making it angry, let sleeping dogs lie. Origin of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie This ancient phrase originated in 13th century.
At this point I ought to mention the 18th century British politician Sir Robert Walpole. 'Let sleeping dogs lie' is frequently associated with or even attributed to Walpole and the proverb is many times mentioned in print as being his motto. It is so closely associated with him as to have been the source of a later cartoon.
What's the origin of the phrase 'Let sleeping dogs lie'? 'Let sleeping dogs lie' derives from the long-standing observation that dogs are often unpredictable when they are suddenly disturbed. Geoffrey Chaucer was one of the first to put this notion into print, in Troilus and Criseyde, circa 1380, although the belief itself may well be much older: ...
The story is, to current sensibilities, pretty much bonkers. 'Daft' seems to be used to mean 'insane' and the 'hound' apparently alludes to a stricken sailing ship.
The reason for that attribution is never explained and doesn't appear to be based on any evidence. The expression appears nowhere in any of Walpole's published writings and, as far as I can tell, there is no record of his ever uttering it.
Sir Robert may have been in the habit of advising caution in political policy but, as far as the evidence shows, he didn't coin or even use the expression 'let sleeping dogs lie'. To get to the current wording of the proverb we have to move to the 19th century.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie Meaning. The idiom “let sleeping dogs lie” mean to leave a problem or avoid interfering in a situation/ an old argument because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult situation. So, just like avoiding waking up a dog and making it angry, let sleeping dogs lie.
Origin of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. This ancient phrase originated in 13th century. Later in 14th century, it was used by Geoffrey Chaucer in one of his books which says it is good to avoid waking up a sleeping dog.
The phrase “let sleeping dogs lie” is a reminder not to bring unnecessary risk or danger upon oneself. The saying originates from the idea that waking a sleeping dog was dangerous, especially if done suddenly. This applies to an even greater extent to guard dogs who once awoken would likely attack. The phrase has come to apply to a vast swath ...
Origin of “Let sleeping dogs lie”. “Let sleeping dogs lie” has been in use for centuries. Some scholars have suggested that the phrase dates back to the 1300s , specifically to Geoffrey Chaucer, who used it in Troilus and Criseyde. In this volume he wrote the following:
This proverb might also be used by a narrator in a story. If the narrator uses the phrase, it might foreshadow something to come.
OK, let’s try lie. Lie down, Rooster! Good boy! When I tell him to lie down, I’m telling him that he needs to get himself down. Now that he’s down, he’s snoozing away. I really am going to let a sleeping dog lie. (Consider the titular question answered!)
Finally, laid is the past participle form of lay, and lain is the past participle form of lie.
Laid is the past tense of lay; lay is the past tense of lie. So, When I told Rooster to lay down, he didn’t know what I wanted laid down. When I told Rooster to lie down, he lay down. Finally, laid is the past participle form of lay, and lain is the past participle form of lie.
The saying refers to letting sleeping dogs remain 'laid down'. do not rouse them, from sleep or rest. 'Let sleeping dogs LAY' would be better as other languages may struggle with the interpretation of the word LIE.
If you disturb a sleeping dog it may bite you. If you raise an issue that others have forgotten about or haven't taken much notice of then you may suffer from the consequences.
There are two meanings of the verb 'to lie'. One is to speak falsehoods, the other is to assume a horizontal position. This refers to the latter.
Geoffrey Chaucer was one of the first to put this notion into print, in Troilus and Criseyde, circa 1380 : ‘it is nought good a slepyng hound to wake’.