leave/let well alone

British, American & Australian, American

to leave something the way it is, because trying to improve it might make it worse.

In cases of back trouble, it's difficult to know whether to operate or leave well alone.

I'm not doing any more on that painting - it's time to let well enough alone.

• put someone through something
• put someone through their paces
• put someone through the mill
• put someone through the wringer
• put someone to death
• put someone to shame
• put someone to sleep
• put someone to the test
• put something back on the rails
• put something back on track
• put something behind
• put something behind someone
• put something behind something
• put something behind you
• put something down to experience
• put something in a hole
• put something in motion
• put something in the shade
• put something into service
• put something on a pedestal
• put something on hold
• put something on ice
• put something on the back burner
• put something on the line
• albatross around your neck