hornets' nest

English

Noun

hornets' nest (plural hornets' nests)

1. (figurative) An unpleasant or controversial situation likely to be exacerbated by outside involvement.
   • 1902, Francis Lynde, The Master of Appleby:

     Now what a-devil has set this hornet's nest of theirs abuzz so suddenly?

   • 2007, Tom Peavler, The Adjustment:

     Those articles in the tabloids stirred up a real hornets' nest.

Translations

an unpleasant or controversial situation

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 馬蜂窩／马蜂窝 (zh) (mǎfēngwō)

• Dutch: wespennest (nl) n
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Finnish: ampiaispesä
• Hungarian: darázsfészek (hu)
• Serbo-Croatian: osinje gnijezdo n
• Spanish: nido de avispas

See also

• stir up a hornet's nest