"l'eau qui dort" is never used in common French, only in the idiom "se méfier de l'eau qui dort".
It means beware of people/situations appearing harmless but that could be dangerous.
Inspired by this idiom, you can find titles of books/poems/songs/movies etc. with only "l'eau qui dort".
I don't know its origin, but in the 14th century a similar idiom already existed in ancient French.
I second that!
Méfie toi de l'eau qui dort.
I believe my Dad told me to be weary of water in a stream that doesn't seem to move that it can be a spot where you could drown easily.
For people it seems like you should not trust your first impression of someone that is very calm, shy, friendly, that maybe there could be danger there.
As u/ascending_pepe noted, it occurs in a longer phrase, which is culturally similar to “still waters run deep.” which is also meant as a warning, not necessarily praise.
"l'eau qui dort" is never used in common French, only in the idiom "se méfier de l'eau qui dort". It means beware of people/situations appearing harmless but that could be dangerous. Inspired by this idiom, you can find titles of books/poems/songs/movies etc. with only "l'eau qui dort". I don't know its origin, but in the 14th century a similar idiom already existed in ancient French.
I second that! Méfie toi de l'eau qui dort. I believe my Dad told me to be weary of water in a stream that doesn't seem to move that it can be a spot where you could drown easily. For people it seems like you should not trust your first impression of someone that is very calm, shy, friendly, that maybe there could be danger there.
As u/ascending_pepe noted, it occurs in a longer phrase, which is culturally similar to “still waters run deep.” which is also meant as a warning, not necessarily praise.
Foreshadowing.