set by the ears

set (someone) by the ears

To cause (someone, generally a group of two or more people) to engage in a squabble, dispute, or altercation. The entire town was set by the ears when it was announced that a giant megastore would be replacing many of its local shops and grocery marts. Jake likes to set his classmates by the ears as a means of getting attention.
See also: by, ear, set
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

set by the ears

cause people to quarrel.
See also: by, ear, set
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • set (someone) by the ears
  • get into a fight
  • lower
  • get (one's) ears lowered
  • get (one's) ears set out
  • get ears set out
  • corn squabble
  • pop (one's) ears
  • prick up (one's) ears
  • prick up one's ears, to
References in classic literature
How many years he went on worrying the tribunals of his country to turn out the Duke in possession, and to put himself in the Duke's place--how many lawyer's purses he filled to bursting, and how many otherwise harmless people he set by the ears together disputing whether he was right or wrong-- is more by a great deal than I can reckon up.
The Moonstone