He spoke calmly to them trying to pour oil on troubled waters but it was useless.

他心平气和地与他们讲话试图使争吵平息，但这却是徒劳的。

Her children were just at that age when they seemed to quarrel all day long, so she had to learn very quickly how to pour oil on troubled waters.

她的孩子们正处于似乎整天争吵不休的年龄，因此她得尽快学会如何平息风波。

The two men were shouting abuse, but she did her best to pour oil on the troubled waters.

那两个男人大声对骂，而她则尽力从中调解。