hornet's nest
8
7.2
- noun
- /ˈhɔrnɪts nɛst/
- Informal
:
nido de avispas
- When she questioned the budget cuts, she found herself in a hornet's nest of political backlash.
- stir up a hornet's nest
Examples
-
The new policy has stirred up a real hornet's nest of controversy among the citizens.
-
Of course the violence will continue because, as has already been stated, the U.S. has "stirred up the hornet's nest."
Blog text (2) -
If we arrest him, we could end up in a hornet's nest.
-
Looks like Pelosi and her pals ran into a hornet's nest.
Blog text (4) -
No, but they can only poke the hornet's nest so long before they get stung.
-
And the sad thing is that stirring the hornet's nest is totally avoidable.
Blog text (2) -
Stirring up this hornet's nest won't be good for anyone.
Fiction book (1990) -
It seems I walked into a hornet's nest of homeschooling activists!
Blog text (27) -
With an estimated $670,000,000 in debt, expected to increase to $1,000,000,000 next year, the Chicago Public School District is a hornet's nest of greed and corruption.
Blog text (27) -
He didn't realize that his comments would create a hornet's nest of complaints from his colleagues.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A situation with fighting or strong arguments that disturbs people
514
2.7
A violent fight between armed groups in a war
58
6.6
Serious disagreement and fighting among people
9
3.7
A place where problems or fighting happen often
6
8.3
A place or situation likely to become suddenly violent because of tensions
1
6.7
A situation that causes trouble, danger, or strong disagreement
1
6.5
A rise in conflict or angry feelings between groups
A situation likely to suddenly become violent or start a fight
A topic that causes strong arguments and trouble
A sudden violent crowd event that causes confusion and danger
Antonyms
How Troublesome
1
4.9
- Informal
8
7.2
∞
1.2
4
3.7
- UK
Surface Forms
Morphology
hornet's + nest
The noun phrase is a straightforward possessive composition: 'hornet' (a stinging insect) + 'nest' (a structure for young), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a nest made by hornets. This compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common and predictable; while there is a figurative use ('stir up a hornet's nest') that learners would need exposure for, the basic referential meaning is transparent.
Etymology
Hornet's nest comes from the image of a real nest full of angry hornets. If you disturb it, the insects rush out and sting, causing chaos, so the phrase means 'a situation full of trouble or danger'.