What happens in the video
Theo asks Hana if he should mention the old invoice tomorrow, and Hana jokes that he should bring popcorn for the fight. Then she gives him real advice: "Let sleeping dogs lie. Talk about the new contracts." Theo agrees, but he has already bought the popcorn.
1 Let's just leave well enough alone.
Tone Gentle and friendly
Use it when a situation is fine now and you think changing it could make it worse. It's less useful when there is a real problem that needs fixing.
Let's just leave well enough alone.
For example:
A: The website works. Should I redesign the menu anyway?
B: Let's just leave well enough alone. Customers like it.
A: OK, I'll focus on something else.
2 Let's let sleeping dogs lie.
Tone Calm and wise
Use it when an old problem or argument is quiet and talking about it again would wake it up. Don't use it to hide something serious that people need to know about.
Let's let sleeping dogs lie.
For example:
A: Should I ask Sam why he missed my party last year?
B: You two are friends again. Let's let sleeping dogs lie.
3 Why open a can of worms?
Tone Serious warning
Use it when one question or action could start many new problems at the same time. It sounds like a warning, so it's stronger than the first two lines.
Why open a can of worms?
For example:
A: I want to ask the whole team who broke the printer.
B: Why open a can of worms? It's fixed now.
A: True. People would start blaming each other.
4 Let it go.
Tone Short and kind
Use it when someone keeps thinking about an old problem that doesn't matter anymore. With a stranger or in an angry moment, it can sound a little rude.
For example:
A: I'm still annoyed that he took the last parking spot.
B: That was Monday. Let it go.
5 It's water under the bridge.
Tone Relaxed and forgiving
Use it to say that an old problem is in the past and you're not upset about it now. It's often an answer to an apology.
For example:
A: I'm sorry about what I said at the meeting last month.
B: Don't worry. It's water under the bridge.
6 Don't rock the boat.
Tone Careful, a bit cautious
Use it when a group is calm and someone wants to say or do something that could upset people. It can sound like you're telling the person to stay quiet, so use it carefully.
For example:
A: Should I complain about the new schedule in front of everyone?
B: Don't rock the boat. Talk to the manager alone.
7 Some things are better left unsaid.
Tone Thoughtful and polite
Use it when saying something would hurt someone or start trouble without helping. It works well in personal or family situations.
For example:
A: Should I tell her I never liked her old boyfriend?
B: They broke up years ago. Some things are better left unsaid.
Common mistakes
-
Not quite
Let sleeping dogs lying.Better Let sleeping dogs lie.
After let, use the base form of the verb with no -ing and no to. Compare "Let me help" and "Let it go."
-
Not quite
Let sleeping dogs lay.Better Let sleeping dogs lie.
Here lie means to rest without moving. Lay needs an object, as in "lay the book on the table," so it doesn't fit this idiom.
-
Not quite
Let's just leave good enough alone.Better Let's just leave well enough alone.
The fixed phrase uses well, not good. People will understand the wrong form, but it sounds unnatural.
Quick quiz
Choose your answer for each question, then open the answer to check it.
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Your friends had an argument last year, and now they get along. What can you say to stop someone from bringing it up?
- Let's let sleeping dogs lie.
- Why don't we rock the boat?
- Let's open a can of worms.
Show the answer (Question 1)
Answer: Let's let sleeping dogs lie. This line tells people not to wake up an old problem that is quiet now.
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Which line sounds most like a serious warning?
- Let it go.
- Why open a can of worms?
- It's water under the bridge.
Show the answer (Question 2)
Answer: Why open a can of worms? It warns that one question or action could start many new problems at once.
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What does "Let's just leave well enough alone" mean?
- Things are bad, so let's fix them.
- Things are fine, so let's stop changing them.
- Let's leave the room now.
Show the answer (Question 3)
Answer: Things are fine, so let's stop changing them. Well enough means the situation is good enough already.
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A coworker apologizes for an old mistake. Which reply shows you are not upset now?
- Don't rock the boat.
- It's water under the bridge.
- Why open a can of worms?
Show the answer (Question 4)
Answer: It's water under the bridge. This phrase says the problem is in the past and you've forgiven it.
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In the Short, why does Hana tell Theo to talk about the new contracts?
- The new contracts are late.
- Talking about the old invoice could start a fight.
- Theo forgot the invoice.
Show the answer (Question 5)
Answer: Talking about the old invoice could start a fight. Hana's popcorn joke shows she expects a fight, so she tells him to let sleeping dogs lie.
Questions learners ask
What does "let sleeping dogs lie" mean?
It means don't bring up an old problem that is quiet now. If you talk about it again, you might start trouble. People often say "Let's let sleeping dogs lie" to suggest that everyone move on.
Is "let sleeping dogs lie" rude?
Usually not. It sounds calm and sensible, like friendly advice. But if you say it to stop someone from talking about a real problem that hurt them, it can sound like you don't care.
What is the difference between "let sleeping dogs lie" and "open a can of worms"?
They work in opposite directions. "Let sleeping dogs lie" is advice to leave an old problem alone. "Open a can of worms" describes the risk: one action could start many new problems at the same time.
Can I use these idioms at work?
Yes, most of them are common in everyday work conversations. "Let's leave well enough alone" and "Let's let sleeping dogs lie" are safe in most meetings. "Don't rock the boat" can sound like you're telling someone to stay quiet, so think about who you're talking to.
Film lines are short quotes used for language teaching. The dialogue belongs to its rightsholders. Theo and Hana are animated characters made with Google Flow.
