Don't muddy the waters. The expression will not muddy the waters. The meaning of a set phrase

Don't muddy the waters

[to whom]. 1. Psk. Don't disturb someone, don't disturb someone. POS 11, 342. 2. Sib. Do no good to anyone. SFS, 124.

Big dictionary Russian sayings. - M: Olma Media Group. V. M. Mokienko, T. G. Nikitina. 2007 .

See what “Don’t muddy the waters” is in other dictionaries:

Cm … Synonym dictionary

You can't muddy the water with water, you can't muddy the water... Dictionary of Russian synonyms and similar expressions. under. ed. N. Abramova, M.: Russian Dictionaries, 1999. stir up stir up; stir up (colloquial) Dictionary of synonyms of the Russian language. Practical guide. M... Synonym dictionary

TO TURN UP, TURN UP, TURN UP. Sovereign to stir in 1 value. ❖ The water will not be muddied, see water. Dictionary Ushakova. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

1. MISTAKE, torment, stir up and stir up; St. (nsv. stir up). 1. what. Make it cloudy. Z. water. Tears blurred her eyes. 2. without Razg. Start feeling nauseous and nauseous. I got sick on the bus. ◊ It will not muddy the water (see Water). 2. MISTAKE, torment, stir up and stir up; St... encyclopedic Dictionary

stir up- to stir up, torment, stir up and permissibly stir up. IN stable combination It will only muddy the waters: It will not muddy the waters... Dictionary of difficulties of pronunciation and stress in modern Russian language

stir up- The waters will not be muddied (colloquial) quiet, meek, modest. He is a harmless person: he won’t muddy the waters...

STEALTHY WATER Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Language

MUDDIFIED THE WATER- 1. who causes confusion. This implies a desire to create an abnormal, unhealthy environment within a person. social group. This means that a person or group of persons (X) sows discord, excites people, causing unnecessary suspicion,... ... Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Language

Meaning, history, synonyms and antonyms

It won't muddy the waters (often jokingly, but with approval)- about a very meek, modest, harmless, quiet person. Same as " won't muddy the water" Used with a subject with the meaning of person: he, she, woman, boy, student... will not muddy the waters.

Origin of phraseology:

According to one version, the phraseological unit “will not muddy the waters” is derived from the expression “” (cm.)- “to take advantage of squabbles, panic, confusion in business to achieve personal gain.” Hence the original meaning of the phraseological unit - “will not behave vilely, immorally”, which expanded later.

The famous Russian linguist and writer E. A. Vartanyan in his book “From the Life of Words” notes that the phraseological unit is well known in many languages ​​(cf. its German complete analogue Er kann kein Wässerchen trüben). It may occur in parallel with different nations, which is explained by their similarity social experience and real everyday observations: friendly hunters, farmers, washerwomen tried not to muddy the waters, taking care of those who were located below them along the river. Therefore, to speak about a person - he will not muddy the waters - has come to mean “he is modest and decent.”

Synonyms :

• quieter than water, lower than the grass;
• and wouldn’t hurt a fly;
• and will not lay a finger on anyone;
• with an open soul.

Antonyms :

• muddy the waters (deliberately confuse matters by creating confusion);
• holds a stone in his bosom.

Usage examples :

I can’t complain about my Capa: she’s not very nimble. It won't muddy the waters... We’ve been living together for so long, but I don’t think I’ve even heard her voice. (Mamin-Sibiryak, “A Man with a Past”)

[Yugov:] Your son is a dangerous rebel..

[Voronina:] He's home won't muddy the waters. Humble and respectful. (K. Trenev, “Gymnasium Students”)

[Krivosudov:] Look like this, won't muddy the water... But there are always devils in the still waters. (Sudovshchikov, “An Unheard of Case”)

Razg. Unism. Someone who is very modest, quiet, humble (talking about a person who will not cause anyone the slightest harm or the slightest offense). He wouldn't hurt a fly, he wouldn't hurt him; quieter than water, lower than the grass. With noun with value persons: neighbor, young man, girl, student... ...

It won't muddy the waters- Razg. Express The same thing that no one can muddy with Water. [Yugov:] Your son is a dangerous rebel... [Voronina:] He won’t stir up trouble at home. Humble and respectful (K. Trenev. Gymnasium students) ... Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Literary Language

won't muddy the waters- see water... Dictionary of many expressions

- (foreign) quiet, peace-loving Wed. Ivan, in turn, chickened out, calmed down and sat there without disturbing the water. Pisemsky. People of the forties. 2, 11. Wed. How did he really (having snatched the girl from the monastery) manage to get married? Then I looked at... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary

The monk will not muddy the waters (like a line along the bottom). quiet, peaceful. Wed. Ivan, in turn, chickened out, calmed down and sat without disturbing the water. Pisemsky. People of the forties. 2, 11. Wed. But how can it really be (snatching the girl from the monastery)… … Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)

whoever won't muddy the waters- About a modest, meek man... Dictionary of many expressions

Perm. The same thing that won’t muddy the waters. Podyukov 1989, 164 ...

Razg. About a very modest, harmless, quiet, calm person. BMS 1998, 90; BTS, 139; WWTP, 40; F 1, 200... Large dictionary of Russian sayings

quieter than water, lower than the grass- Razg. Unism. 1. Modest, inconspicuous, timid, or trying to appear so due to circumstances. = He won’t muddy the waters, he won’t hurt a fly, he won’t hurt him. With noun with value faces: young man, mother, brother, student... quieter than water, lower than the grass. The old man hated Anna... ... Educational phraseological dictionary

Cm … Synonym dictionary

Books

• Pig in oranges, Daria Kalinina. I must say, Yulka definitely had no luck with her life partners! No matter what a husband is, he is certainly a monster in a man’s guise! The newly made spouse was no exception. Anton turned out to be completely different...

They appear thanks to the rituals of certain people, carried out to achieve certain goals. Someone has to muddy the waters in the truest sense of these words. After which the same expression appears, but in an allegorical meaning.

This article is devoted to the phraseological unit “muddying the waters.” We will explain it and tell you how it appeared in our vocabulary.

The meaning of a set phrase

To interpret the expression, let us turn to the large phraseological dictionary edited by Rose T.V. The compiler of this publication gives the following meaning of the stable phrase we are considering: “to confuse, mislead.” This is the definition of the expression “muddying the waters.” Phraseologism means a bad thing, therefore it has a disapproving connotation. It characterizes “murky” people who, through cunning, deception, and entanglement of others, obtain benefits and achieve their selfish goals.

The history of the origin of this expression is surprising and at the same time simple. Let's look at it.

Origin story

What fishermen have not come up with for greater fishing success! Once upon a time, in the good old days, the following ritual was practiced before fishing. The water where they were fishing was muddied. This was not done by chance. The fishermen believed that in this way the fish would not see the nets and would get caught in them. Such was the fishing ingenuity and cunning. Whether this method really worked is anyone's guess.

Gradually, the expression “muddying the waters” began to take on a different, negative meaning. Perhaps this is connected with one fable of the ancient Greek poet Aesop. It told how one fisherman deliberately muddied the water to annoy his neighbor. Since then, the expression we are considering characterizes people who achieve their goals in a dishonest way, by confusing others, hiding some important points, lies.

Use of expression

This phraseological unit is often used both in literary and colloquial speech. Writers love to characterize “murky” heroes with this expression. You can find it in the media.

It is in journalism that the expression “muddying the waters” is most often used. In particular, in publications devoted to politics, the work of banks, fraud, this phraseological unit - excellent remedy to describe unclean deeds and convey the sentiments of those dissatisfied with this state of affairs. It is used when calling to stop deceiving others, bringing evil to people for personal gain.

Razg will not muddy the waters. Unism. Someone is very modest, quiet, humble (talking about a person who will not cause anyone the slightest harm or the slightest offense). He wouldn't hurt a fly, he wouldn't hurt him; quieter than water, lower than the grass. With noun with value faces: neighbor, young man, girl, student... will not muddy the waters.

My modest hostess, Natalya Patrikeevna, will not muddy the waters. (N. Nekrasov.)

“Well, how is your... Dunya?” - “...Modest and quiet, she won’t stir up trouble, she just seems lazy.” (D. Mamin-Sibiryak.)

Educational phraseological dictionary. - M.: AST. E. A. Bystrova, A. P. Okuneva, N. M. Shansky. 1997 .

See what “will not muddy the waters” mean in other dictionaries:

won't muddy the waters- quieter than water, lower than the grass, quiet, quietest, good boy, good boy, meek, harmless, quiet Dictionary of Russian synonyms. will not muddy the waters adj., number of synonyms: 8 harmless (15) ... Synonym dictionary

It won't muddy the waters- Razg. Express The same thing that no one can muddy with Water. [Yugov:] Your son is a dangerous rebel... [Voronina:] He won’t stir up trouble at home. Humble and respectful (K. Trenev. Gymnasium students) ... Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Literary Language

won't muddy the waters- see water... Dictionary of many expressions

will not muddy the water (like a tench along the bottom)- (foreign) quiet, peace-loving Wed. Ivan, in turn, chickened out, calmed down and sat there without disturbing the water. Pisemsky. People of the forties. 2, 11. Wed. How did he really (having snatched the girl from the monastery) manage to get married? Then I looked at... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary

It won’t muddy the water (like a tench along the bottom)- The monks will not muddy the waters (like a line along the bottom). quiet, peaceful. Wed. Ivan, in turn, chickened out, calmed down and sat without disturbing the water. Pisemsky. People of the forties. 2, 11. Wed. But how can it really be (snatching the girl from the monastery)… … Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)

whoever won't muddy the waters- About a modest, meek man... Dictionary of many expressions

It won't spill water- Perm. The same thing that won’t muddy the waters. Podyukov 1989, 164 ...

It won’t muddy the waters (with water)- Razg. About a very modest, harmless, quiet, calm person. BMS 1998, 90; BTS, 139; WWTP, 40; F 1, 200... Large dictionary of Russian sayings

Razg. Unism. 1. Modest, inconspicuous, timid, or trying to appear so due to circumstances. = He won’t muddy the waters, he won’t hurt a fly, he won’t hurt him. With noun with value faces: young man, mother, brother, student... quieter than water, lower than the grass. The old man hated Anna... ... Educational phraseological dictionary

quieter than water, lower than the grass- Cm … Synonym dictionary