stirring up a hornets' nest

A form of stir up a hornets' nest — To do or say something that causes a lot of trouble or controversy.

Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of stir up a hornets' nest
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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