PhrasesHub

Pour oil on troubled waters

    Definitions

      • calm a difficult situation
        Attempt to make peace or calm a tense or difficult situation

    Examples of Pour oil on troubled waters

    • The CEO knew that tensions between the marketing and sales teams were causing substantial problems within the company. In order to alleviate the escalating conflict, he decided to organize a team-building retreat. During the retreat, he used the "pour oil on troubled waters" idiom to encourage the teams to work together and find a peaceful resolution to their disagreements. The CEO explained to them, "Just as adding oil to rough waters helps to calm the surface and promote smooth sailing, working together as a team will help ease the tension and lead to a more productive and harmonious work environment."

      The phrase "pour oil on troubled waters" is used figuratively to describe a situation where an individual attempts to resolve conflicts and difficulties by promoting harmony and peace. The imagery of pouring oil on water is used to illustrate how a smooth and peaceful solution can be reached by minimizing conflict and promoting cooperation. In this scenario, the CEO used the idiom to encourage both teams to work collaboratively and find common ground, allowing them to resolve their disputes and achieve a more productive and harmonious work environment.

    • The CEO's sudden announcement to reduce the company's annual stock dividend caused a lot of uproar and discontent among the shareholders. The board of directors quickly realized that they needed to take action to calm the situation down. They invited the CEO to address the shareholders in person and then followed it up by engaging in a series of dialogues with the major shareholders. The board members also assured the shareholders that the company's financial health was strong and that the decision to cut dividends was a sound one in the long run. These efforts, coupled with a statement from a respected financial analyst endorsing the decision, helped to mitigate the tension and restore harmony among the shareholders. This situation is an example of "Pouring oil on troubled waters."

      The expression "Pouring oil on troubled waters" is a metaphorical way of describing an action that helps to soothe a situation that is emotionally charged or tense. Just as adding oil to water reduces the friction and helps the two liquids to mix smoothly, similar actions or statements can be made to calm a heated situation and bring about a peaceful resolution. This idiom was originally used to describe the ancient Greek practice of adding olive oil to water used in religious ceremonies to prevent the two liquids from separating.

    • During the heated debate between two politicians, the moderator suggested bringing in a respected community leader to "pour oil on troubled waters" and help ease the tension.

      This idiom is used when someone tries to resolve a conflict or reduce tension in a situation that is tense, acrimonious or volatile. The phrase "pour oil on troubled waters" is in the context of pacifying troubled or choppy waters by adding oil, which spreads itself over the surface to calm it down. The metaphoric use of this idiom suggests that a wise or respected person can calm down contentious situations by injecting a calming force amidst the contention.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "pour oil on troubled waters" is used to describe the act of trying to calm a difficult situation or make peace. It can be used in various contexts, such as in personal relationships, conflicts at work, or even in larger societal or political issues. The intention behind using this idiom is to ease tensions and make the situation more manageable.

    This idiom can be used in both literal and figurative senses. In a literal sense, it can refer to the act of pouring oil on rough or choppy waters to calm them. Figuratively, it is used to describe actions or words that are meant to soothe or pacify a tense or difficult situation.

    Overall, the idiom "pour oil on troubled waters" is a metaphorical expression that signifies the attempt to bring peace and calm to a difficult or tense situation.

    Origin of "Pour oil on troubled waters"

    The origin of the idiom "pour oil on troubled waters" can be traced back to ancient times when oil was actually used to calm rough waters. In maritime history, sailors would pour oil on the surface of turbulent waters to create a calming effect, reducing the waves and making the sea more navigable.

    The figurative use of the idiom likely stems from this literal practice, as people began to use the expression to describe actions or words that have a calming or soothing effect on a difficult situation. Over time, it has become a widely recognized idiom in the English language, conveying the idea of attempting to bring peace and harmony to troubled circumstances.