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Synonyms

make waves

Idioms  

  1. Cause a disturbance or controversy, as in We've finally settled our differences, so please don't make waves. This expression alludes to causing turbulence in the water. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see rock the boat.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Aonishiki isn’t the first non-Japanese wrestler to make waves in sumo.

From The Wall Street Journal

“He had incredible energy. I just knew he was going to make waves one day,” said Lee of his first encounter with Paik at an academic conference in 2015.

From The Wall Street Journal

The self-assured world champion has the potential to make waves – in the ring and commercially - for years to come.

From BBC

Annabelle is not the first young woman from Norwich to make waves in the wrestling scene.

From BBC

All this came with a sugary disco image and catchy bubblegum songs, also including Spirit, Body and Soul, Don't Make Waves and Don't Love Me Too Hard.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.