Explaining "Do not rock the boat"

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 15/10/2024, 11:29

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The phrase "Do not rock the boat" means to avoid causing trouble or creating a disturbance in a situation, often to maintain the current state of affairs and keep things running smoothly.

Tone

Cautious and advisory

Origin

The idiom is traced back to William Jennings Bryan, an American statesman and politician, who in 1914 said, "The man who rocks the boat ought to be stoned when he gets back on shore," indicating a warning against causing disturbance or trouble.

Examples of usage

We have finally reached an agreement after lengthy negotiations, so let's not rock the boat now.
The team is finally starting to work well together; try not to rock the boat with unnecessary changes.