stir up a hornets' nest

verb

To do or say something that causes a lot of trouble or controversy.

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Meanings

verbstir up a hornets' nest (third-person singular simple present stirs up a hornets' nest, present participle stirring up a hornets' nest, simple past and past participle stirred up a hornets' nest)

present singular third person stirs up a hornets' nest · participle present stirring up a hornets' nest · participle past stirred up a hornets' nest · past stirred up a hornets' nest · alternative kick a hornets' nest

  1. To do or say something that causes a lot of trouble or controversy.

Translations

Polish wsadzać kij w mrowisko, wsadzić kij w mrowisko
  • wsadzać kij w mrowiskoTranslations
  • wsadzić kij w mrowiskoTranslations
Thai แหย่รังแตน
  • แหย่รังแตน (yɛ̀ɛ-rang-dtɛɛn)Translations
Welsh tynnu nyth cacwn ar ei ben
  • tynnu nyth cacwn ar ei benTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

stir up a hornets' nest. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stir%20up%20a%20hornets'%20nest

MLA

“stir up a hornets' nest.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stir%20up%20a%20hornets'%20nest. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stir up a hornets' nest,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stir%20up%20a%20hornets'%20nest.

Source: stir up a hornets' nest on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.