The idiom “let sleeping dogs lie” means to avoid stirring up old conflicts or unresolved issues. It is better to agree to disagree and move on. The origin is attributed to Chaucer and refers to the danger of waking a sleeping dog.
The idiom let sleeping dogs lie means not to stir up old conflicts or provoke a discussion of unresolved issues. It is often better to agree to disagree and move on than to ignite hostility over an ongoing difference of opinion. Letting sleeping dogs lie refers to a dog’s instinctive behavior whenever he is suddenly awakened from a nap. Many dogs will instinctively lash out at those who try to wake them up for no reason, and these natural responses are often quite painful.
An example of the idiom in action would be a heated argument between a man and wife about an unpaid bill. While the problem itself may be relatively minor, it could bring up painful memories of a previous struggle over family finances. Instead of provoking or escalating the argument, both might agree to let the sleeping dogs lie and not needlessly remind each other of the previous fight. Extracting a challenging or painful issue from the past would not help resolve the current situation, so both parties agree not to discuss it.
Unresolved grievances or long-standing feuds in business can also benefit from this proverb. A project manager may have had an unpleasant working relationship with a subordinate in the past, but a new project requires full team cooperation. Rather than sabotage the unity of the group, the project manager and his or her collaborator can agree to let the sleeping dogs lie when it comes to their personal disagreements. If the problems of the past are largely resolved and have little bearing on the current situation, then it is best for everyone to lie dormant.
Although the Old Testament book of Proverbs refers to foolish mistreatment of dogs, many sources point to the English author Chaucer as the originator of the printed idiom. Other authors have since used variations on Chaucer’s theme to imply the inherent dangers of waking sleeping dogs. The modern form of the idiom is more passive in nature, suggesting that sleeping dogs, especially large, volatile breeds, should remain undisturbed. In Chaucer’s time, the proverb warned against deliberately approaching a sleeping dog and forcibly waking it up. Anyone who chooses to wake a sleeping guard dog will generally get the punishment he deserves.
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