| idiom. |
to try to obtain personal benefits by exploiting a disturbed situation (thefreedictionary.com); to try to capitalize on or benefit from a situation, circumstance, or experience that is fraught with disorder, difficulty, confusion, stress, etc. (No one really thought about the money lenders who were making cash hand over fist during the recession, fishing in the troubled waters many homeowners and small businesses found themselves in.  thefreedictionary.com); to involve oneself in a difficult, confused, or dangerous situation, especially with a view to gaining an advantage (Frank is fishing in troubled waters by buying more shares of that company. They are supposed to be in financial difficulties. • The company could make more money by selling armaments abroad, but they would be fishing in troubled waters. thefreedictionary.com); try to take advantage of a confused situation (He often buys up stock in companies declaring bankruptcy; fishing in troubled waters generally pays off thefreedictionary.com) |
