寝ねた子こを起おこす

expression, godan verb (-su)

wake a sleeping dog; disturb the water; stir up trouble

Idiomatic expression meaning to bring up an issue that is better left alone, or to stir up unnecessary trouble. The literal meaning is 'to wake a sleeping child'.

• その話はなしは寝ねた子こを起おこすようなものだ。

  That topic is like waking a sleeping dog.

• 彼かれはわざわざ寝ねた子こを起おこすようなことを言いった。

  He deliberately said something that stirred up trouble.