hornet's nest

hornet's nest

1. A dangerous, complicated situation. If we do invade, I fear that we will find ourselves in a real hornet's nest.
2. A situation that produces angry reactions. The politician's off-the-cuff remark about pollution stirred up a hornet's nest among environmentalists.
See also: nest
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a hornets' nest

a situation fraught with trouble, opposition, or complications.
1992 New Scientist The notion of these ‘life patents’ has opened up a hornets' nest of moral, legal, social and scientific concerns.
See also: nest
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a ˈhornet’s nest

a lot of trouble: When Charles got the manager’s job, it stirred up a real hornet’s nest, because everyone was angry about his fast promotion.
A hornet is a large wasp that has a very powerful sting.
See also: nest
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a hornet's nest
  • a hornets' nest
  • reality of the situation
  • if I was/were in your place
  • if I were in your place
  • get down to the facts
  • take (something) by the throat
  • do the business
  • be (not) out of the woods
  • if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen
References in periodicals archive
(https://www.facebook.com/jude.verret.9/videos/vb.100007905006907/1935604716713010/?type=2&video_source=user_video_tab) Verret who took 45 minutes to get rid of hornets from the backyard shed was miraculously not stung by any of them. He was dressed in the proper gear to takedown the hornet's nest, but he said he was still worried.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest debuts on DVD and Blu-ray tomorrow from Momentum Pictures.
A full bench of the court ordered Vice President Paramananda Jha, who stirred up a hornet's nest by taking the oath in the Hindi language last year, to retake the oath in Nepali or lose his vice presidency.
Scotlandville Magnet High School students have been lining up to be a part of LA DOTD Federal Credit Union's first student-run high school branch, the Hornet's Nest CU.
I guess it is high time to open this Pandora's Box and hornet's nest to deal with this critical matter once and for all.
"I don't want to stir up a hornet's nest, but if I was a black person and people called me names it would be classed as racist and the offenders could be arrested for it.
HOUSE SPEAKER DENNIS HASTERT has managed to stir up quite a hornet's nest by retiring.
The two drivers yesterday settled their differences following the hornet's nest they stirred up during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
CHIEF Constable Terry Grange has stirred up a hornet's nest with his comments about sex and teenagers.
Similar claims ignited a diplomatic "history war" in 2002 that was settled in 2004; so why, Lankov asks, are the Chinese once again whacking this hornet's nest, risking their country's popularity in South Korea?
Although resolutions do not have the force of law, this one has stirred up quite a hornet's nest.
Indeed, over the past four years or so, DiLorenzo and The Real Lincoln have stirred up a hornet's nest of frothing, apoplectic liberals and neo-conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, as they vainly attempt damage control of the bleeding myth of Lincoln, the "Redeemer President."
However, some say the lack of professional conduct by the inspectors has created an emotional hornet's nest among small business owners and their employees.
Shernoffs first book, Without Condoms, draws on a large number of case studies and over 1,500 responses to an Internet survey to take on the hornet's nest of psychological factors that compel many gay men to take serious risks in the bedroom.
Then he discovered that his $1.6 million purchase was a hornet's nest of code violations.