pour oil on troubled waters
Speech parts
1. pour oil on troubled waters - Verb
2. pour oil on troubled waters - Phrase
Meaning
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)
(idiomatic) To calm, appease or quieten a person or situation.
Antonym: add fuel to the fire