Let sleeping dogs lie

Cultural  

1. Do not stir up a problem that has lain quiet for some time.

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let sleeping dogs lie Idioms  

1. Allow inactive problems to remain so, as in Jane knew she should report the accident but decided to let sleeping dogs lie. This injunction to avoid stirring up trouble was already a proverb in the 13th century. It alludes to waking up a fierce watchdog and has been stated in English since the late 1300s.

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Example Sentences

Maybe sometimes we should let sleeping dogs lie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Surely this is enough reason to let sleeping dogs lie.

From Washington Post • Aug. 17, 2022

Should I reach out to him and apologize, or let sleeping dogs lie?

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2021

"I was slightly concerned people might say I should let sleeping dogs lie, but I haven't received a single derogatory remark," she says.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2019

I was afraid he might have chosen to let sleeping dogs lie.

From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk