| The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. |
| |
| pour oil on troubled waters |
| |
| |
| To calm a disturbance: “His ideas caused real dissension within the party at first, but he poured oil on troubled waters in last night’s speech.” | 1 |
| ‡ In ancient times, oil was often poured on ocean waves to calm turbulence, a practice that would be denounced today. | 2 |
| |
| | | The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
|
|
