put the cat among the pigeons

English

Alternative forms

• set the cat among the pigeons

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU):

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Verb

put the cat among the pigeons

1. (figuratively) To cause alarm.
   • 1994, The Times, 19 September

     Professor Stephen Hawking put the cat among the pigeons last week with his cheery remarks about comet Machholz-2, which some astronomers believe could be heading our way.

Translations

Translations

• Dutch: de knuppel in het hoenderhok gooien
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Finnish: herättää huolta
• French: jeter un pavé dans la mare (fr)

See also

• flutter in the dovecote

References

• Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, Cassell, 1996