Phrase guide

let sleeping dogs lie

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To leave things as they are; especially, to avoid restarting or rekindling an old argument; to leave disagreements in the past.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: let it be, leave it be, let things be, leave things be, let it alone, leave it alone, let things alone, leave things alone; let bygones be bygones, let nature take its course
  • Eventually, they decided it would be best to let sleeping dogs lie and not discuss the matter any further.
  • A: I noticed a minor typo in the proofs just now, but I think they're already doing the make-ready on the press. B: Time to let sleeping dogs lie then.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: let it be, leave it be, let things be, leave things be, let it alone, leave it alone, let things alone, leave things alone, let bygones be bygones, let nature take its course

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Attestations exist from the 1820s and 1830s. Earlier ones may be discoverable with better corpus searches. The metaphor is self-evident and is typical of folk wisdom. To choose to pass by a sleeping dog without stirring it is comparable to letting a hornets' nest or beehive be, not poking a bear, and so on.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 莫惹是非 (mò rě shìfēi) — leave things as they are
  • Chinese Mandarin: 讓惹是非 /让惹是非 (ràng rě shìfēi) — leave things as they are
  • Czech: nepíchej do vosího hnízda — leave things as they are
  • Dutch: slapende honden wekt men niet — leave things as they are
  • Esperanto: ne elvoku lupon el la arbaro — leave things as they are
  • Finnish: älä herätä nukkuvaa karhua — leave things as they are
  • French: il ne faut pas réveiller le chat qui dort — leave things as they are
  • German: schlafende Hunde weckt man nicht — leave things as they are
  • Hungarian: ne ébreszd fel az alvó oroszlánt — leave things as they are
  • Icelandic: ekki vekja upp draug — leave things as they are
  • Irish: ná hoscail doras na hiaróige — leave things as they are
  • Italian: non svegliare il can che dorme — leave things as they are
  • Japanese: 寝た子を起こすな (neta ko o okosu na) — leave things as they are
  • Japanese: 触らぬ神に祟りなし (sawaranu kami ni tatari nashi) — leave things as they are
  • Polish: nie rozdrapuj starych ran — leave things as they are
  • Polish: nie wywołuj wilka z lasu — leave things as they are
  • Portuguese: não cutucar a onça com vara curta — leave things as they are
  • Portuguese: não cutucar a fera com vara curta — leave things as they are
  • Portuguese: não acordar moscas que estão a dormir — leave things as they are
  • Portuguese: não mexer com quem está quieto — leave things as they are
  • Portuguese: não mexer em vespeiro — leave things as they are
  • Russian: не буди́ ли́хо, пока́ спит ти́хо (ne budí líxo, poká spit tíxo) — leave things as they are
  • Russian: не буди́те спя́щую соба́ку (ne budíte spjáščuju sobáku) — leave things as they are
  • Russian: от греха́ пода́льше (ot grexá podálʹše) — leave things as they are
  • Serbo-Croatian: не дирај лава док спава — leave things as they are
  • Serbo-Croatian: ne diraj lava dok spava — leave things as they are
  • Spanish: no marear la perdiz — leave things as they are
  • Spanish: no marear la perdiz dejar las cosas tranquilas — leave things as they are
  • Swedish: inte väcka den björn som sover — leave things as they are