stir up

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stir up

A chef uses a wooden spoon to stir up the ingredients in a large bowl.

Definition

Verb: 1. To provoke or incite (a strong reaction, emotion, or action): To cause something, often something negative or disruptive like trouble, unrest, or strong feelings, to begin or increase. 2. To arouse or excite feelings and passions: To cause emotions, such as anger, compassion, or enthusiasm, to become active or stronger. 3. To change the arrangement or position of by agitating: To mix or disturb the contents of something, causing movement. (This meaning is less common for the phrasal verb and is more directly related to the base verb "stir").

Examples
  • Provoke or incite:
    • His speech was intended to stir up resentment among the voters.
    • The article stirred up a major controversy.
  • Arouse or excite feelings:
    • The documentary stirred up a lot of sympathy for the cause.
    • The old photograph stirred up fond memories of my childhood.
  • Change arrangement by agitating (less common for the phrasal verb):
    • The wind stirred up the leaves on the path.
Advanced Usage
  • "stir up trouble": To deliberately cause problems or discord.
    • He's always trying to stir up trouble between colleagues.
  • "stir up a hornet's nest" (idiomatic): To cause a lot of trouble or anger, often by getting involved in a sensitive situation.
    • Asking about the pay cuts really stirred up a hornet's nest.
Variants and Related Words
  • Stir (verb): To mix a liquid or substance; to cause to move slightly; to arouse an emotion or feeling.
    • Stir the soup gently.
    • The story stirred her curiosity.
  • Agitate (verb): To make someone troubled or nervous; to stir or shake a liquid.
Synonyms
  • Incite: To encourage unlawful or violent behavior.
  • Provoke: To stimulate or give rise to a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one.
  • Arouse: To evoke or awaken a feeling or response.
  • Foment: To instigate or stir up (undesirable sentiment or action).
  • Whip up: To excite or provoke strong feelings, often quickly.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Stir in: To mix an ingredient into a liquid or mixture.
    • Stir in the vanilla extract last.
  • Stir around: To move things around within a container or area.
    • She stirred around in her bag looking for her keys.
Related Idioms
  • Stir the pot: To cause trouble or controversy, often deliberately.
    • He loves to stir the pot at family gatherings by bringing up old arguments.
stir up

A chef uses a wooden spoon to stir up the ingredients in a large bowl.

Verb
  1. provoke or stir up
    • incite a riot
    • set off great unrest among the people
  2. change the arrangement or position of
  3. arouse or excite feelings and passions
    • The ostentatious way of living of the rich ignites the hatred of the poor
    • The refugees' fate stirred up compassion around the world
    • Wake old feelings of hatred
  4. try to stir up public opinion