hornet's nest — n. Informal a situation fraught with trouble, hostility, risk, etc … English World dictionary
hornet's nest — noun 1. a highly contentious or hazardous situation talk of invading Iraq stirred up a political hornets nest • Syn: ↑hornets nest • Hypernyms: ↑situation 2. habitation for wasps or hornets • Syn: ↑wasp s nest … Useful english dictionary
hornet's nest — n. angry reaction to stir up a hornet s nest * * * [ angry reaction ] to stir up a hornet s nest … Combinatory dictionary
hornet's nest — noun Date: circa 1740 1. a troublesome or hazardous situation 2. an angry reaction < must have known that his frank comments…would stir up a hornet s nest U.S. Investor > … New Collegiate Dictionary
hornet's nest — a large amount of activity, trouble, hostility, or animosity: His investigation stirred up a hornet s nest, resulting in major shifts in personnel. [1730 40] * * * … Universalium
hornet's nest — nest made by wasps; mess, trouble … English contemporary dictionary
Hornet's Nest (novel) — infobox Book | name = Hornet s Nest title orig = translator = image caption = Cover Art from UK edition author = Patricia Cornwell illustrator = cover artist = country = USA language = English series = genre = Crime publisher = Berkly pub date =… … Wikipedia
hornet's nest — hor′net s nest n. a large amount of trouble or hostility … From formal English to slang
hornet's nest — /ˈhɔnəts nɛst / (say hawnuhts nest) noun a great deal of trouble, hostility …
To stir up a hornet's nest — Hornet Hor net, n. [AS. hyrnet; akin to OHG. hornaz, hornuz, G. horniss; perh. akin to E. horn, and named from the sound it makes as if blowing the horn; but more prob. akin to D. horzel, Lith. szirszone, L. crabo.] (Zo[ o]l.) A large, strong… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
