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pour oil on troubled waters

To calm something or someone who is tenacious or misbehaving.

Etymology:

  • From the ancient practice of pouring oil on the sea's waves to calm them.
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I better go pour oil on those troubled waters the children are making over there.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'pour oil on troubled waters':

Pour Oil on Troubled WatersTo calm down the tense situation, to sooth someone in anger or tension
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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to pour oil on troubled waters

snake oilsnake oiltest the waterswimba over troubled waters.pour inpour forthpour inpour one's heart outpour fuel on the firepour outstill waters run deeppour forthpour your heart and soulpour honey into one's ear

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    "pour oil on troubled waters." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/pour-oil-on-troubled-waters_6210>.

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