Stir up a hornet's nest.
Cause a lot of trouble.
Stir up a hornet's nest" is used to describe a situation where someone does something that provokes a strong and often angry reaction from a group of people. It visualizes the aggressive disturbance of a nest of hornets, causing them to swarm and attack - a metaphor for triggering collective agitation or unrest.
Example Sentences
He really stirred up a hornet's nest by bringing up old conflicts at the meeting.
He caused a lot of trouble by bringing up old conflicts at the meeting.
It's like stirring up a hornet's nest whenever you criticize the boss in front of everyone.
Criticizing the boss in public often causes a lot of trouble.
Discussing politics at family gatherings is often akin to stirring up a hornet's nest, full of sudden and intense reactions.
Discussing politics at family gatherings often leads to intense reactions.
