pour oil on troubled waters

• cast oil on troubled waters

From the ancient practice of pouring oil on the sea's waves to calm them.

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pour oil on troubled waters (third-person singular simple present pours oil on troubled waters, present participle pouring oil on troubled waters, simple past and past participle poured oil on troubled waters)

1. (idiomatic) To calm, appease or quieten a person or situation.

   Antonym: add fuel to the fire

   • 1885, Beverley Ellison Warner, a Troubled Waters: A Problem of To-day, page 40:

     Tom Street deemed it his duty to pour oil upon the troubled waters, being, as it were, officially responsible for the welfare of the chowder-plates and tobacco-pipes which were hired for the occasion.

   • 2013, Jane Cable, The Cheesemaker's House, page 95:

     I remember him taking umbrage when he thought I was doubting his grandmother's skills so I am quick to pour oil on troubled waters.

• clear the air