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- DictionaryRock the boat
- ▪ say or do something to disturb an existing situation
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ROCK THE BOAT definition: 1. If you rock the boat, you do or say something that will upset people or cause problems: 2. If…. Learn more.
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.
What Does It Mean to Rock the Boat? The modern use of the idiom rock the boat means to make trouble , to upset the status quo, or to disturb the harmony of something. It is often expressed in the negative as a warning : don’t rock the boat .
1. : to move back and forth in or as if in a cradle. She gently rocked the baby to sleep. 2. a. : to cause to sway back and forth. a boat rocked by the waves. b (1) : to cause to shake violently. An earthquake rocked the town. (2) : to daze with or as if with a vigorous blow. A hard right rocked the contender. (3) : to astonish or disturb greatly.
You can use "Rock the Boat" to describe someone who is causing trouble or disruption in a situation. It implies that the person is stirring up controversy or challenging the status quo. For example, if a coworker is constantly creating conflicts in the office, you might say, 'He always tries to rock the boat and stir up drama.'
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.
ROCK THE BOAT meaning: to do or say something that changes a situation in a way that causes problems. Learn more.
