# pour oil on troubled waters

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pour-oil-on-troubled-waters
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To calm, appease or quiet a person or situation.

## Examples

- He tried to pour oil on troubled waters after the argument.
- She pours oil on troubled waters whenever her children fight over their toys.
- The manager stepped in to pour oil on troubled waters when the two coworkers started shouting at each other.
- When my parents start debating politics at dinner, I usually try to pour oil on troubled waters by changing the subject to our upcoming holiday.
- The teacher had to pour oil on troubled waters after a misunderstanding during the game made several students feel very frustrated and upset.
- Recognizing the rising tension in the boardroom, the diplomat spoke calmly, hoping to pour oil on troubled waters before the negotiations collapsed entirely.

## Origin

The phrase derives from the ancient maritime practice of pouring oil onto sea waves to calm their surface. The physical effect relies on the oil forming a thin layer that prevents the wind from gaining the necessary traction to create crests, a technique documented as a practical method of soothing a turbulent sea long before it transitioned into a metaphor for resolving human disputes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.