fish in troubled waters

Idioms  

1. Try to take advantage of a confused situation. For example, He often buys up stock in companies declaring bankruptcy; fishing in troubled waters generally pays off. This term, first recorded in 1568, expresses the even older notion that fish bite more readily when seas are rough.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fish in troubled waters

Meanwhile, I was becoming convinced that the Soviets were seeking to fish in troubled waters.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Soviets, Weinberger said on Face the Nation, "have a huge presence in Syria, and they love to fish in troubled waters."

From Time Magazine Archive

Always to fish in troubled waters," replied Count Bismarck, with the reckless candour peculiar to him; "but if he is now urging us to war, I don't think the fishing will be lucky for him.

From For Sceptre and Crown, Vol. I (of II) A Romance of the Present Time by Meding, Johann Ferdinand Martin Oskar

Might it not be from this fable that we have taken the expression, "to fish in troubled waters," of which without a doubt the good Yoritomo furnished the origin many, many centuries ago?

From Common Sense, How to Exercise It by Yoritomo-Tashi, Mme. Blanchard

The conduct of Great Britain showed a propensity to fish in troubled waters.

From Jefferson and His Colleagues; a chronicle of the Virginia dynasty by Johnson, Allen