Let sleeping dogs lie means don't bring up an old problem or conflict while things are calm, or you'll make matters worse. People say it about old quarrels, awkward stories and touchy subjects. The image is simple: it's better not to wake a sleeping dog, because once it's awake, it might bite.
When would you say let sleeping dogs lie?
Write a sentence — we'll check that the expression fits the situation and suggest what to fix.
The check is taking longer than usual. Your feedback will appear here automatically.
let sleeping dogs lie; it's better/best to let sleeping dogs lie; decide to let sleeping dogs lie
- I wanted to ask him about the money he still owes me, but I decided to let sleeping dogs lie.
- The two families finally get along, so it's better to let sleeping dogs lie.
What changed
First versionI decided to let sleeping dogs to lie and didn't mention our old argument.
RevisionI decided to let sleeping dogs lie and didn't mention our old argument.
After let, the verb comes without to: let me go, let them stay. It's tempting to add to, as after allow (allow them to stay), but let doesn't take it. Only to was removed.
Lie here means “to be lying down”, and its past tense is lay. But lay is also a separate verb meaning “to put down”, so even native speakers sometimes say let sleeping dogs lay. The correct form is lie: the dogs are simply lying there, and nobody is putting them down.
Your turn
My aunt and my mum haven't argued about the old flat for years, so at the family dinner I ___ and changed the subject.
Show the answer
let sleeping dogs lie — The old argument died down long ago, and the speaker didn't bring it up, changing the subject instead: let sleeping dogs lie. Let the cat out of the bag means to give away a secret, and nobody in this story revealed anything.
Describe an old argument or awkward story that you decided not to bring up. Say who it involves.
My best friend and I once fell out over a holiday plan, but now I let sleeping dogs lie and never bring it up.
Learn to use new words without mistakes
Write phrases with the words you are learning. LetsWords shows mistakes in usage and grammar, suggests corrections and explains them, and review helps the words stick.