pour oil on troubled water

pour oil on troubled water(s)

To calm or settle a tense situation. If those two are arguing again, send Mom in to talk to them—she's great at pouring oil on troubled waters.

See also: oil, on, pour, trouble

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

pour oil on troubled water(s)

Fig. to calm someone or something down. (A thin layer of oil will actually calm a small area of a rough sea.) Don can calm things down. He's good at pouring oil on troubled waters. Alice is very good at pouring oil on troubled water.

See also: oil, on, pour, trouble, water

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

pour oil on troubled ˈwater(s)

try to settle a disagreement or dispute; take action which will calm a tense or dangerous situation: He was always having rows with his son and his wife’s attempts to pour oil on troubled water usually made things worse. ♢ There’s going to be big trouble unless somebody pours oil on troubled waters fast. OPPOSITE: add fuel to the fire/flamesSailors used to pour oil on a rough sea to calm the water in order to make a sea rescue easier.

See also: oil, on, pour, trouble, water

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017