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by Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony on June 18th, 2004

Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony

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Where does the phrase "let sleeping dogs lie" come from?

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  • by Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony on June 18th, 2004

    Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony

    It is a phrase originated by Chaucer around 1380 in Troilus and Criseyde, 'It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake'. It means that one shouldn't stir up a potentially difficult situation when it's best left alone

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  • by Anschel on June 3rd, 2008

    Anschel

    The book of Proverbs (26:17) says, "Like someone who grabs a dog by the ears, is a bystander who meddles in a dispute not his." (My translation.) Maybe this is where Chaucer got the metaphor from.

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  • by Ethan Allison on April 1st, 2005

    Ethan Allison

    Well, ya don't wanna wake up your dog when s/he's sleeping, do ya?

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