- Meaning
- This idiom advises against causing trouble, disrupting stability, or challenging the status quo, especially in delicate or harmonious situations. It suggests maintaining peace and avoiding actions that could upset a group, organization, or relationship. The phrase is used in social, professional, or political contexts to advocate caution and conformity, often with a conservative or conciliatory tone. It reflects a desire to preserve balance but can also imply resistance to necessary change, carrying subtle undertones of fear or complacency.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in early 20th-century America, tied to the literal act of avoiding sudden movements in a small boat to prevent capsizing. It first appeared metaphorically in a 1914 *Chicago Tribune* editorial urging workers not to ‘rock the boat’ during labor negotiations. The idiom gained traction during the 1920s, reflecting post-World War I desires for social and economic stability. Its use in political discourse, as seen in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speeches, and in literature, such as Sinclair Lewis’ *Babbitt* (1922), popularized it in American English. By the mid-20th century, it spread to British and global English, resonating in contexts of teamwork and diplomacy where stability was prized.
- Variants
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- Don’t rock the boat
- Rock not the boat
- Don’t upset the boat
- Don’t shake the boat
- Examples
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- Don’t rock the boat by criticizing the new policy—let’s keep the team united for now.
- She was told not to upset the boat during the merger talks, as tensions were already high.
- Rock not the boat; we need harmony in the family during this difficult time.
- He rocked the boat by questioning the boss’s decision, causing a rift in the department.
- Don’t shake the boat with radical ideas until we’ve stabilized the project.
- They urged her not to rock the boat at the meeting, fearing it would derail negotiations.
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