Pour oil on troubled water Meaning in English

expression

US

PAWR oyl on TRUH-buhld WAW-ter

UK

PAW oyl on TRUB-uhld WAW-tuh

Definition

To try to make an angry or tense situation calmer and more peaceful.

Usage & Nuances

This is an idiom, mainly used in formal or semi-formal contexts. It means actively calming conflict between people, not literally using oil. Commonly used: 'He tried to pour oil on troubled water.' Often confused with similar phrases about peacekeeping.

• Spanish: calmar las aguas - apaciguar una situación
• Portuguese (BR): acalmar os ânimos - apaziguar uma situação
• Portuguese (PT): acalmar os ânimos - apaziguar uma situação
• Chinese (Simplified): 平息纷争 - 平息事端
• Chinese (Traditional): 平息紛爭 - 平息事端
• Hindi: स्थिति को शांत करना
• Arabic: تهدئة الوضع
• Bengali: বিতর্কিত পরিস্থিতি শান্ত করা - উত্তপ্ত পরিবেশ শান্ত করা
• Russian: урегулировать конфликт - сгладить острые углы
• Japanese: 波風を立てないようにする - 揉め事をおさめる
• Vietnamese: xoa dịu tình hình căng thẳng - làm dịu mâu thuẫn
• Korean: 갈등을 진정시키다 - 분쟁을 완화하다
• Turkish: ortamı yumuşatmak - gerginliği yatıştırmak
• Urdu: کشیدہ حالات کو پرسکون کرنا - تنازع کو ٹھنڈا کرنا
• Indonesian: meredakan ketegangan - menenangkan suasana

Example Sentences

She tried to pour oil on troubled water during the family argument.

basic

The teacher often pours oil on troubled water when students fight.

basic

He wanted to pour oil on troubled water after the meeting became heated.

basic

Whenever there's drama at work, Jane steps in to pour oil on troubled water.

natural

He has a real talent for pouring oil on troubled water in tense meetings.

natural

Sometimes, all it takes is one person to pour oil on troubled water and change the mood.

natural