stir up a hornets' nest
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Make trouble, cause a commotion, as in Asking for an audit of the treasurer's books stirred up a hornets' nest in the association. This metaphoric term, likening hornets to angry humans, dates from the first half of the 1700s.
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Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?
Words nearby stir up a hornets' nest
stirrup cup, stirrup jar, stirrup leather, stirrup pump, stir up, stir up a hornets' nest, stishie, stishovite, stitch, stitch abscess, stitchery
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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