Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

rock the boat

Idioms  

  1. Disturb a stable situation, as in An easygoing manager, he won't rock the boat unless it's absolutely necessary. This idiom alludes to capsizing a small vessel, such as a canoe, by moving about in it too violently. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The supply shocks from either would already rock the boat; both together would capsize global markets like a perfect storm,” said Raj.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 12, 2026

Esther wishes she had made a formal complaint at the time, but says she did not because he was an important author, and she didn't want to rock the boat.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2025

Rather than rock the boat in times of trouble, Walter has practiced patience when it comes to personnel decisions.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2025

He doesn’t want to rock the boat in any way.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2024

Would you rock the boat and speak out, or would you remain silent, as the people of Auschwitz did?

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.