rock the boat

Idioms

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

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

“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

Some people became unusually quiet and accommodating, not daring to rock the boat.

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

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