pour oil on troubled waters

English

Etymology

From the ancient practice of pouring oil on the seawaves in order to calm them.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Verb

pour oil on troubled waters (third-person singular simple present pours oil on troubled waters, present participle pouring oil on troubled waters, simple past and past participle poured oil on troubled waters)

1. (idiomatic) To calm, appease or quiet a person or situation.

   Synonym: cast oil on troubled waters

   Antonym: add fuel to the fire

   • 1885, Beverley Ellison Warner, a Troubled Waters: A Problem of To-day, page 40:

     Tom Street deemed it his duty to pour oil upon the troubled waters, being, as it were, officially responsible for the welfare of the chowder-plates and tobacco-pipes which were hired for the occasion.

   • 2013, Jane Cable, The Cheesemaker's House, page 95:

     I remember him taking umbrage when he thought I was doubting his grandmother's skills so I am quick to pour oil on troubled waters.

Translations

calm, appease or quieten

• Finnish: valaa öljyä laineille
• French: calmer le jeu (fr)
• German: die Wogen glätten (de)
• Polish: łagodzić (pl) impf
• Spanish: templar gaitas, apaciguar los ánimos

See also

• clear the air