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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

What is clear is that London City are not here to make friends, they are here to rock the boat and are planning big things for the future.

From BBC • Dec. 22, 2025

“Right now I might say, ‘We don’t rock the boat, let’s not go to Toronto and Montreal.’

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2025

“Therefore, the aim of communication following the end of the meeting will likely try to not rock the boat one way or the other.”

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2024

In Bragg’s view, all that Crick did was to rock the boat.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

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.