Don’t wake up a sleeping dog
Posted: May 29, 2014 Filed under: ACTION, ANIMALS, dog, sleep | Tags: blended idioms, don't wake a sleeping giant, expressions, humor, language, let sleeping dogs lie, malaphor, malaphors, miami heat, mixed idioms, sun-sentinel, words 11 CommentsHere is another beaut from the sports world. Miami Heat center Chris Bosh, commenting on Lance Stephenson of the Pacers trash-talking Lebron James said, “Don’t wake up a sleeping dog. That’s a lesson I learned a long time ago.” This is a great mash-up of “let sleeping dogs lie” (leave something alone that may cause trouble) and “don’t wake a sleeping giant” (something powerful that is not dangerous unless provoked). Confusion lies in the common word “sleeping” and that some dogs can be dangerous if provoked. A big shout out to Justin Taylor for catching this one! Reference is below:
Malaphors 
“Don’t wake up a sleeping dog” almost makes sense. Some of the mashups you post are totally incomprehensible. I really enjoy your blog and it makes me smile every time I read one of these. Thanks.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Doobster. Please share my blog with others who may enjoy words and humor.
I found your site when I was looking for the correct translation of the Dutch expression “Maak geen slapende honden wakker”. (Don’t wake up sleeping dogs). Interesting that this is a “malaphor” in English. To Doobster, I would say, it doesn’t ALMOST make sense, it makes REAL sense, LOL
Thank you Jan. Interesting how similar meaning idioms are expressed differently in different languages and cultures. If you have any Dutch malaphors, please pass them on. I would love to post some idiom mash ups in other languages.
“Nur keine schlafenden Hunde wecken” is a German proverb, too.
Good to know! Thanks!
And a Dutch one.
and a Martian one as well…
That’s a good one, and actually I have posted it previously. As you can see, it also came from the sports world. Coincidence? Keep ’em coming https://malaphors.com/2014/05/29/dont-wake-up-a-sleeping-dog/
we dont say it in singular in Dutch
it should be plural
sleeping dogs.
Someone used that comment to me, let the sleeping dog sleep, although I agree, some matters need to be discussed to bring closure