kick/whip/stir up a storm
phrase
: to create a situation in which many people are very angry, upset, critical, etc.
His racial comments kicked/whipped/stirred up a storm in the newspapers.
Cite this Entry
“Kick/whip/stir up a storm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick%2Fwhip%2Fstir%20up%20a%20storm. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
