Pour Oil on Troubled Waters
Definition: To soothe a turbulent situation; to calm down angry persons. This term finds its origins in an ancient practice of pouring oil on ocean waves to decrease their violence. Notable historical usage includes Bede’s Ecclesiastical History (a.d. 731), where an Irish monk advises a priest to use holy oil on the sea during a storm. Over time, this metaphor morphed into calming conflicts of any nature. One example is B. Baring’s observation in the Croker Papers (1847): “Disraeli poured oil and calmed the waters.”
Synonyms: Pacify, mollify, soothe, placate, appease
Antonyms: Agitate, exacerbate, provoke
Humorous Quotes:
- “I tried to calm my coworkers arguing by pouring oil on troubled waters, but now they’re just greasy and angry.” — Unknown
- “If you’re going to pour oil on troubled waters, make sure it’s not the oil from a deep fryer!” — Unknown
Proverbs and Expressions:
- “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” — Proverbs 15:1
- “Kill them with kindness.”
- “Let sleeping dogs lie.”
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies:
- Literature: Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh
- Books: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- Songs: “Let It Be” by The Beatles
- Poetry: If by Rudyard Kipling
- Movies: The Peacemaker (1997)
Inspirational Thought-Provoking Farewell:
“The secret to taming a storm lies not in fighting the wind, but in steadying the sail. Let your words be the oil that calms, even when tempests rage.”
— Calm Watersmith, 2023
### What does it mean to "pour oil on troubled waters"?
- [x] To calm down a difficult situation
- [ ] To assign more tasks to already busy people
- [ ] To celebrate a victory
- [ ] To add flavor to a boring dish
> **Explanation:** Pouring oil on troubled waters is a metaphor for calming down a turbulent situation or soothing upset individuals.
### Which is a synonym for "pour oil on troubled waters"?
- [x] Mollify
- [ ] Infuriate
- [ ] Intensify
- [ ] Complicate
> **Explanation:** "Mollify" means to soothe or calm someone, making it a synonym for "pour oil on troubled waters."
### True or False: The phrase 'pour oil on troubled waters' has historical origins in calming ocean waves.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! The phrase comes from an old practice where oil was poured on sea waves to lessen their violence.
### Which famous figure was noted for pouring oil on troubled waters in the *Croker Papers* of 1847?
- [ ] Napoleon Bonaparte
- [ ] Queen Victoria
- [x] Disraeli
- [ ] Charles Dickens
> **Explanation:** Disraeli was noted for this in the *Croker Papers*, effectively using diplomacy to calm turbulent political situations.
### In which book can you find practical advice that aligns with the philosophy behind "pour oil on troubled waters"?
- [ ] *Moby Dick* by Herman Melville
- [ ] *War and Peace* by Leo Tolstoy
- [ ] *Fifty Shades of Grey* by E.L. James
- [x] *How to Win Friends and Influence People* by Dale Carnegie
> **Explanation:** Dale Carnegie's *How to Win Friends and Influence People* offers practical advice for calming conflicts, similar to the idiom.
