Leave well enough alone

Cultural  

1. If things are going tolerably well, leave them alone; your efforts to improve the situation may make things worse.

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leave well enough alone Idioms  

1. Also, let well enough alone. Do not try to change something lest you make it worse. For example, This recipe has turned out fine in the past, so leave well enough alone. The idea behind this expression dates from ancient Greek times, specifically Aesop's fable about a fox who refused a hedgehog's offer to take out its ticks lest, by removing those that are full, other hungry ones will replace them. Put as let well alone from the early 1700s, it was first recorded as let well enough alone in 1827. Also see let sleeping dogs lie.

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Example Sentences

As someone who wakes up in a cold sweat every night, terrified by the looming possibility that “The Devil Wears Prada 2” may be awful, trust me: Sometimes it’s better to leave well enough alone.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

And because I never can leave well enough alone, I also recommend you give this All-American classic a Mexican twist by adding prepared salsa and fresh cilantro.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 16, 2022

Those sentiments might suggest that Americans would prefer the government to leave well enough alone.

From New York Times • Aug. 27, 2019

And, most essentially, there’s a would-be detective who’s out of his depth but can’t leave well enough alone.

From Washington Post • Jun. 12, 2019

Tendai thought, as he struggled with Kuda, that Rita never knew when to leave well enough alone.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer