let sleeping dogs lie

Also found in: Acronyms

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to not talk about things which have caused problems in the past, or to not try to change a situation because you might cause problems. His parents never referred to the shoplifting incident again. I suppose they thought it best to let sleeping dogs lie. It wasn't that we didn't want to improve the school - it was more a case of letting sleeping dogs lie.

See also: dog, let, lie, sleep

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? References in classic literature
Why, sir, I read by it,' said Mr Flintwinch, screwing himself at him, 'that if it's advisable (as the proverb says it is) to let sleeping dogs lie, it's just as advisable, perhaps, to let missing dogs lie. Little Dorrit by Dickens, Charles View in context More results

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let off
let off easy
let off steam
let on
let out
let ride
let rip

let sleeping dogs lie
let slide
let slip
let slip through fingers
let speak for itself/themselves
let the cat out of the bag
let the chips fall
let the chips fall where they may

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