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to create quite a sensation

to create quite a sensation

1 5.6
To cause a lot of public interest and excitement
  • idiom
translation icon : causar sensación
  • Her performance in the lead role is creating quite a sensation among theatergoers.

Examples

  • The launch of the latest tech gadget is creating quite a sensation in the media.

  • We created quite a sensation.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Created quite a sensation.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • As early as 1884, LaFlesche presented his first paper before the American Association for the Advancement of Science when he and Fletcher offered joint papers on the sacred pipes of the Omahas and created quite a sensation.

    Academic text (2001)
  • They created quite a sensation in the local newspapers, which reported their every move, and they were treated like royalty and given lavish clothing, dinners, and accommodations, as well as many presents to take back to Georgia with them.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The new chef's innovative recipes are creating quite a sensation in the culinary world.

Synonyms

to excite
vsto create quite a sensation
331 2.7

To make someone feel very happy, interested, or eager

specifies public attention and widespread interest rather than private feeling
to stir
vsto create quite a sensation
131 3.7

To make someone feel a strong emotion

is about causing public excitement rather than private emotional response
to blow your mind
vsto create quite a sensation
  • Informal
50 6.2

To surprise someone a lot and make them feel excited

emphasizes wide public reaction and interest rather than single shock
to make waves
vsto create quite a sensation
  • Informal
12 4.9

To get attention or cause trouble by changing the usual way things are done

focuses on drawing public excitement rather than primarily causing change
to make a splash
vsto create quite a sensation
11 3.9

Get a lot of attention in an exciting way

focuses on wide public excitement rather than only dramatic showiness
to cause a stir
vsto create quite a sensation
6 4.0

Make people feel excited or upset and attract attention

is about broad public attention not just local emotional response
to brew up a storm
vsto create quite a sensation
  • Informal
7.1

To cause a lot of excitement and strong reactions

leans toward wide public excitement rather than only noisy commotion
to whip up a storm
vsto create quite a sensation
  • Informal
6.8

To make food quickly or to cause strong excitement

often focuses on causing quick energy rather than lasting wide attention
to set the Thames on fire
vsto create quite a sensation
  • Archaic
9.9

To cause great excitement or a big effect, often said to mean something is not impressive

is straightforward about causing wide public excitement not ironic doubt

Antonyms

57 2.5

Other people do not see or pay attention to it

15 1.4

To make someone feel tired or not interested by being dull when you speak

How Sensational

to create quite a sensation
1 5.6
to make headlines
  • Literature
40 3.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

create + quite + a + sensation

The meaning is directly compositional: 'create' (to produce) combined with 'sensation' (something that causes public excitement) and the intensifier 'quite' yields 'produce a strong public reaction'. This follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern (e.g. 'causar sensación') and a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can infer the overall meaning.

Etymology

Create quite a sensation comes from the image of making many people feel a strong feeling or surprise. The verb create means 'to make' and sensation is a strong feeling, so to create quite a sensation is to make lots of people feel surprised or excited — 'to attract a great deal of attention'.