rock the boat

Idioms and Phrases

Disturb a stable situation, as in An easygoing manager, he won't rock the boat unless it's absolutely necessary . This idiom alludes to capsizing a small vessel, such as a canoe, by moving about in it too violently. [ Colloquial ; early 1900s]

Example Sentences

And conditions for any momentum are likely to worsen before the November election, when legislators will try not to rock the boat.

From New York Times

He doesn’t want to rock the boat in any way.

From Salon

The tyranny of fear that makes Black women reluctant to take risks lest we lose the tenuous hold we have on our status affected our willingness to rock the boat in a tiny industry where everyone knows one another.

From Los Angeles Times

“Now rock the boat, as if you were on the water.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Therefore, the aim of communication following the end of the meeting will likely try to not rock the boat one way or the other.”

From Seattle Times