STIR UP Meaning and
Definition
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The phrase "stir up" is an idiomatic expression that typically denotes the act of instigating or provoking a particular action, emotion, or response, often in a negative or chaotic manner. It can also refer to deliberately causing trouble or disturbance in a situation or relationship.
In a literal sense, "stir up" means to agitate or mix ingredients together in a container, as in cooking or preparing a beverage. However, its colloquial usage expands beyond the literal interpretation.
When spoken in a figurative context, "stir up" refers to the act of arousing or inciting feelings, ideas, or reactions within individuals or groups. For instance, someone might try to "stir up" controversy by spreading false information or promoting discord among people. Similarly, an individual can "stir up" emotions like anger, jealousy, or excitement by engaging in provocative behavior or making divisive statements.
The term can also be applied to less negative situations, indicating an attempt to inspire or motivate individuals or groups. For instance, a speaker might aim to "stir up" enthusiasm, passion, or a sense of determination in the audience.
In summary, "stir up" is an English idiom that encompasses various connotations, all centered around the idea of inciting, provoking, or fomenting specific reactions, emotions, or actions within individuals or groups, often with a degree of intentionality.
Top Common Misspellings for STIR UP *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for STIR UP
- atir up
- ztir up
- xtir up
- dtir up
- etir up
- wtir up
- srir up
- sfir up
- sgir up
- syir up
- s6ir up
- s5ir up
- stur up
- stjr up
- stkr up
- stor up
- st9r up
- st8r up
- stie up
Etymology of STIR UP
The word stir up has its origins in Old English. The verb stir can be traced back to the Old English word styrian, meaning to move, agitate, or excite. The related word up emphasizes the upward or heightened effect of stirring. When these two words are combined, stir up is formed, which has been used in English since the 14th century to mean to arouse, provoke, or incite. Throughout history, stir up has been commonly used in phrases such as stir up trouble, stir up emotions, or stir up a debate.
Idioms with the word STIR UP
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stir up sb/sth
The idiom "stir up someone/something" means to provoke or instigate someone or something, usually to create trouble, conflict, or strong emotions. It implies intentionally causing unrest, agitation, or disruption.
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stir up a hornet’s nest
The idiom "stir up a hornet's nest" means to inadvertently cause a great deal of trouble, conflict, or anger by interfering or meddling in a situation. It refers to the act of disturbing a nest of hornets, which can result in aggressive and harmful consequences.
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stir up a hornets' nest
The idiom "stir up a hornets' nest" means to cause a lot of trouble, controversy, or anger by meddling in a situation that is best left untouched. It refers to the act of disturbing a hornets' nest, which would result in the enraged hornets swarming out and attacking anyone or anything that provoked them. Similarly, using this idiom suggests that interfering or instigating a certain situation will lead to negative and chaotic consequences.
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stir up a hornet's nest
The idiom "stir up a hornet's nest" means to cause trouble or provoke a strong and angry reaction by getting involved in a contentious or highly sensitive situation. It implies that the actions or words used will result in a vehement and potentially dangerous response, much like disturbing a hornet's nest would provoke an aggressive swarm of hornets.
Similar spelling words for STIR UP
- strapper,
- strapless,
- strop,
- Strubbe,
- streep,
- strapping,
- Stroope,
- straub,
- sterope,
- stripes,
- strip,
- strappado,
- stripy,
- strepera,
- starbuck,
- stroppy,
- striver,
- strope,
- striper,
- stirrup,
- strub,
- struble,
- stroup,
- strube,
- stripe,
- stripper,
- straube,
- strophe,
- Striplin,
- stir fry,
- strep,
- striping,
- stroop,
- strap,
- Stroupe,
- striped,
- stripped,
- struve,
- streeper,
- straplike.
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