raise hell

present singular third person raises hell · participle present raising hell · participle past raised hell · past raised hell

1. idiomaticTo cause a considerable disturbance.

   Near-synonyms: (disturb loudly) raise the dead, wake the dead

   2 more examples

   Don't want to sleep yet, buddy it's a good bet I'll raise more hell than you.

   2013, Jason Isbell, Super 8

   A segment where several cast members in panda suits raise skateboarding hell in the streets of Tokyo.

   2022, Marisol Cortez, “Ambivalent Anality: Revisiting the Queer Ecology of "the Jackass Moment"”, in Media+Environment

   Synonyms: raise the devil, raise Cain, raise hob, raise the roof, rain hell, reign hell, stir shit, raise the dead

2. To complain vociferously (about a certain matter).

   Local authorities, media and all other regional stakeholders need to wake up, step up, and (frankly) raise hell... before it's too late.

   2022 February 9, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Mounting opposition to IRP”, in RAIL, number 950, page 3

   Synonyms: raise the devil, raise Cain, raise hob, raise the roof, give someone hell, throw a fit