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fish in troubled waters
Idioms and Phrases
Try to take advantage of a confused situation. For example, He often buys up stock in companies declaring bankruptcy; fishing in troubled waters generally pays off . This term, first recorded in 1568, expresses the even older notion that fish bite more readily when seas are rough.Example Sentences
"As we're four days before the end of the campaign, someone is trying to take advantage and fish in troubled waters to see what comes out," he said.
"Someone is trying to take advantage and fish in troubled waters to see what comes out," he said.
Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minster, said: “Egypt did not occupy the two islands, but entered them on a Saudi request. History and documents of both countries have not shown any disagreement on the Saudi identity of both islands. But some are trying to fish in troubled waters.”
Never fish in troubled waters.
Always to fish in troubled waters," replied Count Bismarck, with the reckless candour peculiar to him; "but if he is now urging us to war, I don't think the fishing will be lucky for him.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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