a 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.

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 hornets' nest
hornet's 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 classic literature

"Oh, ho," he said, "a nest of revolutionists--and quite a hornet's nest it would seem.

The Iron Heel

We got a splendid stock of sorted spiders, and bugs, and frogs, and caterpillars, and one thing or another; and we like to got a hornet's nest, but we didn't.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

"I have a respect for you, but if you were alone in this business I'd think twice before I put my head into such a hornet's nest. It's Lucy that brings me here, and before harm comes on her I guess there will be one less o' the Hope family in Utah."

A Study In Scarlet

Said Mang, "The village of the Man-Pack, where they cast out the Man-cub, hums like a hornet's nest."

"It was a big stone that I threw," chuckled Mowgli, who had often amused himself by throwing ripe paw-paws into a hornet's nest, and racing off to the nearest pool before the hornets caught him.

Second Jungle Book

We had a hornet's nest on our hands, and to stop at Collinsville would be to have it about our ears.

Tales of the Fish Patrol

Just as I thought that I had finished, and was only too glad that I had laid this question to sleep, and was reflecting how fortunate I was in your acceptance of what I then said, you ask me to begin again at the very foundation, ignorant of what a hornet's nest of words you are stirring.

Republic

New Delhi [India], May 10 (ANI): Stirring a hornet's nest, Karnataka BJP president B S Yeddyurappa on Friday said that over 20 Congress lawmakers in the state are unhappy with the incumbent government.

Over 20 Congress lawmakers unhappy, may decide soon: B S Yeddyurappa

For paper wasps, that means no closer than 4 or 5 feet from the nest, and 10 to 15 feet for a hornet's nest. Yellow jackets will get excited if you step on their nest entrance or approach it with a lawnmower.

Unlikely allies: more than just pollinators, wasps and hornets help keep the undesirable insects in check

"To attempt to have intercourse with a hornet's nest is a very bad idea," Siv During Livh, a psychologist and expert on sex fantasies told the news website.

Swedish Man Dies After Having Sex With Hornet's Nest

If a wasp flies into an area and sees a hornet's nest it will vacate the area, so make your own hornet's nest by taking any brown paper bag and blowing it up.

AS THE weather gets warmer [...]

1 The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (Transworld, pounds 18.99) 2 The Girl Who Kicked A Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (Quercus, pounds 18.99) 3 Saturday Night Peter by Peter Kay (Arrow, pounds 20) 4 Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett (Transworld, pounds 18.99) 5 Driven To Distraction by Jeremy Clarkson (Penguin, pounds 20) 6 Guinness World Records 2010 (Guinness World Records, pounds 20) 7 The Making Of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr (Macmillan, pounds 25) 8 Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (Vintage, pounds 18.99) 9 The Book Of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern (Harper Collins, pounds 14.99) 10 Hell's Heroes by Darren Shan (Harper Collins, pounds 12.99) * List compiled by Waterstones, Captain Cook Square, Middlesbrough

Top Ten Books

It may be a hornet's nest and frightfully un-PC, but surely reader Phil McCusker has a point?

Letter: Your view - Fly weight fight

CHIEF Constable Terry Grange has stirred up a hornet's nest with his comments about sex and teenagers.

VOICE OF THE DAILY Mirror: Straight talk

Although resolutions do not have the force of law, this one has stirred up quite a hornet's nest.

Mo. legislature mulls controversial 'Christian nation' resolution

词组	a hornet's nest
释义	a 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 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 hornets' nest hornet's 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 classic literature "Oh, ho," he said, "a nest of revolutionists--and quite a hornet's nest it would seem. The Iron Heel We got a splendid stock of sorted spiders, and bugs, and frogs, and caterpillars, and one thing or another; and we like to got a hornet's nest, but we didn't. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn "I have a respect for you, but if you were alone in this business I'd think twice before I put my head into such a hornet's nest. It's Lucy that brings me here, and before harm comes on her I guess there will be one less o' the Hope family in Utah." A Study In Scarlet Said Mang, "The village of the Man-Pack, where they cast out the Man-cub, hums like a hornet's nest." "It was a big stone that I threw," chuckled Mowgli, who had often amused himself by throwing ripe paw-paws into a hornet's nest, and racing off to the nearest pool before the hornets caught him. Second Jungle Book We had a hornet's nest on our hands, and to stop at Collinsville would be to have it about our ears. Tales of the Fish Patrol Just as I thought that I had finished, and was only too glad that I had laid this question to sleep, and was reflecting how fortunate I was in your acceptance of what I then said, you ask me to begin again at the very foundation, ignorant of what a hornet's nest of words you are stirring. Republic New Delhi [India], May 10 (ANI): Stirring a hornet's nest, Karnataka BJP president B S Yeddyurappa on Friday said that over 20 Congress lawmakers in the state are unhappy with the incumbent government. Over 20 Congress lawmakers unhappy, may decide soon: B S Yeddyurappa For paper wasps, that means no closer than 4 or 5 feet from the nest, and 10 to 15 feet for a hornet's nest. Yellow jackets will get excited if you step on their nest entrance or approach it with a lawnmower. Unlikely allies: more than just pollinators, wasps and hornets help keep the undesirable insects in check "To attempt to have intercourse with a hornet's nest is a very bad idea," Siv During Livh, a psychologist and expert on sex fantasies told the news website. Swedish Man Dies After Having Sex With Hornet's Nest If a wasp flies into an area and sees a hornet's nest it will vacate the area, so make your own hornet's nest by taking any brown paper bag and blowing it up. AS THE weather gets warmer [...] 1 The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (Transworld, pounds 18.99) 2 The Girl Who Kicked A Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (Quercus, pounds 18.99) 3 Saturday Night Peter by Peter Kay (Arrow, pounds 20) 4 Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett (Transworld, pounds 18.99) 5 Driven To Distraction by Jeremy Clarkson (Penguin, pounds 20) 6 Guinness World Records 2010 (Guinness World Records, pounds 20) 7 The Making Of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr (Macmillan, pounds 25) 8 Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (Vintage, pounds 18.99) 9 The Book Of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern (Harper Collins, pounds 14.99) 10 Hell's Heroes by Darren Shan (Harper Collins, pounds 12.99) * List compiled by Waterstones, Captain Cook Square, Middlesbrough Top Ten Books It may be a hornet's nest and frightfully un-PC, but surely reader Phil McCusker has a point? Letter: Your view - Fly weight fight CHIEF Constable Terry Grange has stirred up a hornet's nest with his comments about sex and teenagers. VOICE OF THE DAILY Mirror: Straight talk Although resolutions do not have the force of law, this one has stirred up quite a hornet's nest. Mo. legislature mulls controversial 'Christian nation' resolution
随便看	end of one's rope, at the end of one's rope/tether, at the/come to the end of play end of story end of the ball game end of the line end of the world end of the world, it's not/wouldn't be the end (one's) days end (one's) life endow endowed with (something) endow (someone or something) with (something) endow with end run ends ends of the earth, (from) the ends of the earth, the end (something) on a high note end to end end up end up as (something) end up at end up at (some place) end up (by) (doing something)