a hornets' 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 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

See also:

a hornet's 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 periodicals archive

Tamsin Harman was walking Reggie, her cavalier King Charles spaniel, in woods off Stuart Place when he discovered something interesting to sniff - a hornets' nest.

When Tamsin and Reggie walked straight into a hornets'nest

While such incidents are rare, it caused local councils to warn people with bee allergies to be extremely cautious and to seek help when they discover a hornets' nest.

BEEWARE; Irish could feel the sting of giant hornet's invasion

"Charitable choice raises a hornets' nest of policy and constitutional problems in providing welfare services; adding it to education programs is truly misguided," said Barry W.

`Charitable Choice' Added To Education Bill In House

HAPPIER TIMES: Vialli is welcomed to Watford by former chairman Elton John; STIRRING UP A HORNETS' NEST: Vialli has angered Watford with his court proceedings

FOOTBALL: LUCA THIS SHAMBLES

词组	a hornets' nest
释义	a hornets' 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 See also: a hornet's 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 periodicals archive Tamsin Harman was walking Reggie, her cavalier King Charles spaniel, in woods off Stuart Place when he discovered something interesting to sniff - a hornets' nest. When Tamsin and Reggie walked straight into a hornets'nest While such incidents are rare, it caused local councils to warn people with bee allergies to be extremely cautious and to seek help when they discover a hornets' nest. BEEWARE; Irish could feel the sting of giant hornet's invasion "Charitable choice raises a hornets' nest of policy and constitutional problems in providing welfare services; adding it to education programs is truly misguided," said Barry W. `Charitable Choice' Added To Education Bill In House HAPPIER TIMES: Vialli is welcomed to Watford by former chairman Elton John; STIRRING UP A HORNETS' NEST: Vialli has angered Watford with his court proceedings FOOTBALL: LUCA THIS SHAMBLES
随便看	the nitty-gritty the noble art the noble art (of self-defense) the noes have it the noose is hanging the normal run (of something) the nosebleeds the nosebleed section the nose knows the not-so-distant future the not-so-distant past the not-too-distant future the not-too-distant past the nouveau riche then/there again the nuts the nuts and bolts the nuts and bolts of something the N-word the object of the exercise the odd man/one out (the) odd man out (the) odd one out the odds are the odds are against (someone or something)