stir up trouble; provoke a dangerous person
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to stir up a hornet's nest; to invite trouble; to provoke someone dangerous or powerful
Derived from the literal act of poking a hornet's nest, which provokes an angry swarm of bees. Used as a metaphor for provoking powerful individuals, stirring up complicated situations, or investigating sensitive issues that lead to backlash. The tone can be either warning or descriptive.
Nǐ你
bù不
yào要
qù去
tǒng捅
mǎ马
fēng蜂
wō窝
，
miǎn免
de得
rě惹
shàng上
bù不
bì必
yào要
de的
má麻
fan烦
。
Don't go poking the hornet's nest to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Tā他
de的
zhè这
fān番
yán言
lùn论
zài在
gōng公
sī司
lǐ里
tǒng捅
le了
mǎ马
fēng蜂
wō窝
，
jī激
qǐ起
le了
zhòng众
nù怒
。
His remarks stirred up a hornet's nest in the company, arousing public anger.
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Jì记
zhě者
de的
diào调
chá查
tǒng捅
le了
mǎ马
fēng蜂
wō窝
，
suí随
hòu后
zāo遭
dào到
le了
duō多
fāng方
wēi威
xié胁
。
The reporter's investigation poked the hornet's nest, and he subsequently received threats from multiple parties.